After the death of Abimelech, which brought no positive change to the people, the only thing the Israelites could do was go back home. The first list of minor judges, Tola and Jair, appears briefly (10:1-5); the second list is found in 12:8-15. The author provides us with very little information about these two judges. We know how long their reign lasted, but their specific duties are not entirely clear.
Once these two judges died, the author emphasizes the wickedness of the people of Israel, who now worship not only the gods of the Canaanites but also those of Syria, Phoenicia, Moab, the Ammonites, and the Philistines. Confronted with this ruinous situation, the only option left for God is to hand them over to the other gods. After enduring oppression, Israel cries out to God, but this time it must negotiate and “do something extraordinary” for God to show mercy. Israel confesses and admits that it has worshipped the Baals, yet God is not “willing” to grant the requests of his people. God has always been faithful, but Israel has not. This time, Israel’s situation is hopeless; God has sworn never to save them again. Without God, Israel’s future is uncertain; therefore, they must act quickly: they need to remove the foreign gods and worship the Lord. Faced with this “change,” God cannot resist; he forgives them and offers them his friendship once more.