Related Topics
The Gods of Zidon (Sidon)
Reference to the Phoenician deities, most notably Ashtoreth, worshipped by the inhabitants of Sidon. Their inclusion in Judges 10 marks a pervasive north-to-south infection of Canaanite polytheism throughout the Israelite confederacy.
The Gods of Syria (Aram)
The first specific inclusion of Aramean (Syrian) deities—such as Hadad and Rimmon—into the catalog of Israel's national idolatry. This represents an expanded scope of spiritual defilement where Israel syncretized with every neighboring cultural religious system.
The Gathering at Mizpah (Gilead)
The mobilization of the Israelite tribes at the traditional 'watchtower' of Gilead. This assembly marks the collective return of the nation to military action and sacred agreement after years of passive subjugation.
The Maonites (Meunites)
A nomadic or settled group likely linked to the region of Maon south of the Dead Sea. In Judges 10, God reveals He saved Israel from them during the post-Exodus/conquest era, providing historical data on an unrecorded victory prior to the current narrative.
Dodo (Grandfather of Tola)
Grandfather of the judge Tola, Dodo is a recurring name in Israelite genealogies, particularly within the military and leadership lineages of Issachar and later Bethlehem.
Jair (Judge)
Jair, a Gileadite who judged Israel for twenty-two years, is characterized by his significant domestic influence and the success of his progeny. Ruling from the Transjordan region, his tenure represents a shift toward aristocratic-style leadership during the pre-monarchic period.
Puah (Son of Dodo)
Father of the judge Tola, Puah belongs to a significant lineage within the tribe of Issachar; while sharing a name with the heroic midwife of the Exodus, this Puah represents the patriarchal line that birthed one of Israel's periods of peace.
Tola (Judge)
Tola, the son of Puah and grandson of Dodo from the tribe of Issachar, arose to save Israel following the tumultuous reign of Abimelech. Though his twenty-three year judgeship is recorded briefly, he is credited with providing a necessary season of stability and 'arising to save,' demonstrating that leadership often functions through quiet restoration rather than dramatic warfare.
Camon
An ancient city in Gilead identified as the burial place of the judge Jair; its historical location likely corresponds to Kamun in northern Transjordan, serving as a site of tribal remembrance for the Gileadite leadership.
Shamir (Ephraim)
A city located in the hill country of Ephraim that served as the home and burial site of the judge Tola. It is distinct from the Shamir located in Judah, representing the administrative reach of Issachar's leadership into the central territory of Ephraim.