"Renew Our Days as of Old"

The tenth chapter of Sefer Shoftim, occurring about midway through the book, is transitional in character. After the death of Avimelekh, the book records two minor judges : Tola' son of Pua from the tribe of Yissachar, and Yair of Gil'ad from the Transjordanian branch of the tribe of Menashe - who shared the same name as his illustrious ancestor, but not the same success.  Both served for a total of 45 years but precious little is recorded of their exploits.  In fact, the text does not even mention the oppressor from whom they rescued the people. With the demise of the two minor judges that followed Avimelech, the book again reverts to the convention of recounting Israelite betrayal and Divine displeasure, in order to indicate that we are now about to embark upon another new historical era, marked by further decline.