Judges 10:4

_AND HE HAD THIRTY SONS THAT RODE ON THIRTY ASS COLTS, AND THEY HAD THIRTY CITIES, WHICH ARE CALLED HAVOTHJAIR UNTO THIS DAY, WHICH ARE IN THE LAND OF GILEAD._ He had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts. This is a characteristic trait of Eastern manners in those early times; and the grant of a village to each of his 30 sons was a striking proof of his extensive possessions. His having 30 sons is no conclusive evidence that he had more than one wife; much less that he had more than one at a time. There are instances in this country of men having as many children, by two successive wives (see 'Hebrew Wife,' p. 20)....

1-5 Quiet and peaceable reigns, though the best to live in, yield least variety of matter to be spoken of. Such were the days of Tola and Jair. They were humble, active, and useful men, rulers appointed of God....

Verse Judges 10:4. _HE HAD THIRTY SONS, C._] It appears that there was both peace and prosperity during the time that Jair governed Israel he had, it seems, provided for his family, and given a village to each of his thirty sons; which were, in consequence, called _Havoth_ _Jair_ or the _villages of Jair_. Their _riding on thirty ass colts_ seems to intimate that they were persons of consideration, and kept up a certain dignity in their different departments....

EXPOSITION JUDGES 10:1 TOLA THE SON OF PUAH, THE SON OF DODO. Nothing more is known of Tola than what is here told us, viz; his name, his parentage, his dwelling-place, his office, the length of time which he held it, and the place of his burial. Who were the enemies from whom Tola was raised up to save Israel we are not told. There was probably no great invasion or grievous servitude, but perhaps frequent border wars requiring an able and watchful chief to maintain the independence of Israel. Tola and Puah (otherwise written Puvah) were both names of families in Issachar (Genesis 46:13; Numbers 26:23). SHAMIR IN MOUNT EPHRAIM, to distinguish it from...

AND HE HAD THIRTY SONS THAT RODE UPON THIRTY ASS COLTS,.... Which to ride on in those times was reckoned honourable, and on which judges rode in their circuit, Judges 5:10 and such might be these sons of Jair, who were appointed under him to ride about, and do justice in the several parts of the country, as Samuel's sons were judges under him, 1 Samuel 8:1, AND THEY HAD THIRTY CITIES, WHICH ARE CALLED HAVOTHJAIR UNTO THIS DAY, WHICH ARE IN THE LAND OF GILEAD; or the villages of Jair. There were some of this name that belonged to Jair, a son of Manasseh, in the times of Moses, Numbers 32:41 and these may be the same, at least some of them; for they were but twenty three he had, whereas these were thirty,...

HAVOTHJAIR Or, The villages of Jair. (Numbers 32:41)....

CHAPTER 10:1-5 TOLA AND JAIR _ 1. Tola judging twenty-three years (Judges 10:1)_ 2. Jair judging twenty-two years (Judges 10:3) These are but brief records but not without meaning. Tola means, translated, “a worm.” What a contrast with the proud, wicked, domineering Abimelech! Here is one, who takes the place in self-abasement. It reminds us of Him, whose voice we hear in the great Atonement Psalm “I am a worm and no man.” Tola, no doubt, typifies our Lord in His humiliation. When Abimelech's awful rule is ended, He who was obedient unto death, the death of the cross, will come to reign in righteousness. And this seems to be more fully brought to our attention in Jair, the judge, who followed Tola. His name means, “enlightener.” He is a type of our Lord in His coming as “the Sun of

TOLA AND JAIR. These are the first of five minor Judges, the other three being named in Judges 12:8. Of the exploits of these Judges we know nothing. Only a few bare facts regarding their parentage, place of abode, years of rule, number of sons, and place of burial, are set down. Three of the five are elsewhere spoken of not as individuals but as clans, and the other two are naturally to be regarded in the same light. Probably they were not introduced by D, but by a later editor. Judges 10:1. Tola is here the son of Puah. Elsewhere these are brothers, sons of Issachar, _i.e._ brother clans (Genesis 46:13; Numbers 26:23;...

Judges 10:1-5. _The Minor Judges: Tola and Jair_ The five Minor Judges, Tola, Jair, Ibzan, Elon, Abdon (Judges 12:8-15), are so called because, unlike the other Judges, they fill but a small place in the general history; no record of their exploits has been preserved. Sometimes Shamgar is grouped with them, but see the notes on Judges 3:31. These five Judges are regarded as carrying on the succession (_and after … there arose_, Judges 10:1; Judges 10:3 etc.), and, according to the view adopted in the Introduction § 2 a, the 76 years assigned to them

_Tola and Jair Judge Israel Judges 10:1-5_ And after Abimelech there arose to defend Israel Tola the son of Puah, the son of, Dodo, a man of Issachar; and he dwelt in Shamir in mount Ephraim. 2 And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir. 3 And after him arose Jair, a Gileadite, and judged Israel twenty and two years. 4 And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havoth-jair unto this day, which are in the land of Gilead. 5 And Jair died, and was buried in Camon. _1._ Who was Tola? Judges 10:1 Tola is described as the son of Puah. Nothing more is known of this man. He evidently made his home in the hill country of Ephraim in a village called Shamir. Tola judged Israel for twenty-th