King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir.
Complete Jewish Bible:
He judged Isra'el twenty-three years, and when he died he was buried in Shamir.
Berean Standard Bible:
Tola judged Israel twenty-three years, and when he died, he was buried in Shamir.
American Standard Version:
And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And he judged{H8199} Israel{H3478} twenty{H6242} and three{H7969} years{H8141}, and died{H4191}, and was buried{H6912} in Shamir{H8069}.
Cross-References (KJV):
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Commentary for Judges 10:2
Judges 10:2, within the broader context of the Book of Judges, succinctly concludes the tenure of Tola, the son of Puah, as a judge over Israel. The verse states, "And he judged Israel twenty and three years, and died, and was buried in Shamir." This brief account reflects the cyclical pattern of leadership and moral decline present throughout the book—a pattern where God raises up leaders, or judges, to deliver Israel from oppression, followed by a period of peace, then a return to sin and idolatry, leading to further oppression.
Tola's judgeship is notable for its brevity in the text; his story is condensed to just two verses, lacking the narrative detail of other judges like Deborah, Gideon, or Samson. This sparsity of information might suggest a period of relative stability and peace in Israel, as there are no mentions of military campaigns or significant events during his time. The mention of his burial place, Shamir, is one of the few geographical references in the Bible to this location, which is thought to be in the hill country of Ephraim.
Historically, Tola's judgeship would have occurred during a time when the Israelites were settling into the Promised Land, and the book's structure implies that his role was primarily to maintain order and uphold justice according to God's law. His twenty-three-year rule is indicative of a generation of leadership, and his death marks a transition point within the larger narrative of Israel's history, as the nation continues to oscillate between faithfulness to God and apostasy. The verse, while simple, underscores the themes of leadership, divine appointment, and the importance of adherence to God's covenant, which are central to the theological message of the Book of Judges.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H8199
There are 182 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁפַט
Transliteration: shâphaṭ
Pronunciation: shaw-fat'
Description: a primitive root; to judge, i.e. pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication, to vindicate or punish; by extenssion, to govern; passively, to litigate (literally or figuratively); [phrase] avenge, [idiom] that condemn, contend, defend, execute (judgment), (be a) judge(-ment), [idiom] needs, plead, reason, rule. - Strong's Number: H3478
There are 2229 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יִשְׂרָאֵל
Transliteration: Yisrâʼêl
Pronunciation: yis-raw-ale'
Description: from שָׂרָה and אֵל; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity; Israel. - Strong's Number: H6242
There are 281 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֶשְׂרִים
Transliteration: ʻesrîym
Pronunciation: es-reem'
Description: from עֶשֶׂר; twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth; (six-) score, twenty(-ieth). - Strong's Number: H7969
There are 381 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁלוֹשׁ
Transliteration: shâlôwsh
Pronunciation: shaw-loshe'
Description: or שָׁלֹשׁ; masculine שְׁלוֹשָׁה; or שְׁלֹשָׁה; a primitive number; three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice; [phrase] fork, [phrase] often(-times), third, thir(-teen, -teenth), three, [phrase] thrice. Compare שָׁלִישׁ. - Strong's Number: H8141
There are 647 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁנֶה
Transliteration: shâneh
Pronunciation: shaw-neh'
Description: (in plural or (feminine) שָׁנָה; from שָׁנָה; a year (as a revolution of time); [phrase] whole age, [idiom] long, [phrase] old, year([idiom] -ly). - Strong's Number: H4191
There are 694 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מוּת
Transliteration: mûwth
Pronunciation: mooth
Description: a primitive root; to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill; [idiom] at all, [idiom] crying, (be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to, be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), [idiom] must needs, slay, [idiom] surely, [idiom] very suddenly, [idiom] in (no) wise. - Strong's Number: H6912
There are 122 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קָבַר
Transliteration: qâbar
Pronunciation: kaw-bar'
Description: a primitive root; to inter; [idiom] in any wise, bury(-ier). - Strong's Number: H8069
There are 3 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁמִיר
Transliteration: Shâmîyr
Pronunciation: shaw-meer'
Description: the same as שָׁמִיר; Shamir, the name of two places in Palestine; Shamir. Compare שָׁמוּר.