Tola

Tola was a judge of Israel from the tribe of Issachar, son of Puah, who judged Israel for twenty-three years after the turbulent time of Abimelech (Judges 10:1–2). He lived in Shamir in the hill country of Ephraim and is described only as one who 'arose to save Israel,' with no specific military or spiritual narrative attached to him. Along with Jair, Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon, he belongs to the group of 'minor judges' whose careers are summarized in brief notices that emphasize administrative rather than military leadership. His twenty-three-year tenure represents one of the longer periods of stable governance in the book of Judges.