Tola was a judge of Israel mentioned in the Old Testament of the Bible. The name Tola means “worm” or “crimson” in Hebrew. Tola was the son of Puah and the grandson of Dodo, from the tribe of Issachar (Judges 10:1). His birth is not mentioned in the Bible, but his judgeship took place after the time of Abimelech, which would place his time as judge around 1118 BC
Early Life of Tola
There is very little information about the early life of Tola, as the Bible primarily focuses on his role as a judge of Israel.
Biblical Timeline
Judgeship of Tola
Tola became a judge of Israel after the death of Abimelech. He judged Israel for 23 years and lived in the town of Shamir, in the hill country of Ephraim (Judges 10:1-2). During his time as a judge, the Bible records no major events or battles that took place, implying that it might have been a time of relative peace for Israel.
Death of Tola
Tola died after serving as a judge for 23 years and was buried in Shamir (Judges 10:2). The Bible does not provide specific details about the circumstances of his death.
Additional Notes
Tola’s judgeship is one of the briefest accounts in the Book of Judges. His role as a judge is primarily recorded to highlight the succession of judges that God raised to lead Israel during this period.