Wesley Corpus

Chapter X The government of Tola and Jair, ver 1 - 5. Israel's sin and trouble, ver. 6 - 9. Their repentance and reformation, which found acceptance with God, ver. 10 - 16. Preparation for their deliverance, ver. 17, 18. There arose - Not of himself, but raised by God, as the other Judges were. To defend - Or, to save, which he did not by fighting against, and overthrowing their enemies, but by a prudent and pious government of them, whereby he kept them from sedition, oppression, and idolatry. In Shamir - Which was in the very midst of the land. A Gileadite - Of Gilead beyond Jordan. And he had thirty sons - They were itinerant judges, who rode from place to place, as their father's deputies to administer justice. Havoth - jair - These villages were called so before this time from another Jair, but the old name was revived and confirmed upon this occasion. Forsook the Lord - They grew worse and worse, and so ripened themselves for ruin. Before they worshipped God and idols together, now they forsake God, and wholly cleave to idols. Philistines, &c. - The one on the west, the other on the east; so they were molested on both sides. That year - Or, that year they had vexed and oppressed the children of Israel eighteen years - This was the eighteenth year from the beginning of that oppression. And these eighteen years are not to be reckoned from Jair's death, because that would enlarge the time of the judges beyond the just bounds; but from the fourth year of Jair's reign: so that the greatest part of Jair's reign was contemporary with this affliction. The case of Jair and Samson seem to be much alike.