SUMMARY
Scant information is given about these minor judges from Issachar and Manasseh in Transjordan.
ANALYSIS
These minor judges, about whom we know very little, may have been included for their geographical references to foster the impression that every corner of Israel participated in the political experiences of this period. Tola was from Ephraim and Jair was from Gilead. Both “judged Israel.” From a literary point of view, the so-called “minor judges” here–alone with Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon in 12:8-15–frame the more developed, though tragic, story of Jephthah.
