Othniel

For the village in Israel, see Othniel (village).

Judges in the Bible
In the Book of Joshua: Joshua In the Book of Judges: Othniel • Ehud • Shamgar • Deborah • Barak† • Gideon • Abimelech† • Tola • Jair •Jephthah • Ibzan • Elon • Abdon • Samson In First Samuel: Eli • Samuel
†Not explicitly described as a judge This box: view · talk · edit

Othniel from "Promptuarii Iconum Insigniorum "

Othniel (Hebrew: עָתְנִיאֵל בֶּן קְנַז, Modern Otni'el Ben Kenaz Tiberian ʻOṯnîʼēl Ben Qənáz ; "lion of God") is the first of the Biblical Judges.

Family

Othniel was related to Caleb, as his father Kenaz was either Caleb's brother or Caleb's father; both are plausible interpretations of Joshua 15:17. The Talmud (Sotah 11b) argues that Othniel was Caleb's brother. When Caleb promises the hand of his daughter Achsah to him who will conquer the land of Debir^[1], it is Othniel who rises to the challenge, thus becoming Caleb's son-in-law (Josh. 15:16, 17; Judg. 1:13).

Campaign as a Judge

Some time after the death of Joshua, the Israelites once again turned to sin and fell under the subjection of Chushan-rishathaim, the king of Aram-Naharaim in Mesopotamia, because of the transgressions against God. He oppressed them for eight years; when they "cried" unto God, Othniel was raised up to be their deliverer. He was the son of Kenaz, who was the younger brother of Caleb according Bible translations such as the New American Bible (Judg. 3:8). He is the only Judge mentioned connected with the Tribe of Judah. Under Othniel, peace lasted for forty years.

After these forty years, Israel fell under the subjection of Eglon, a king of Moab who defeated Israel with help from Ammon and Amalek (Judges 3:12-13).

See also

• Biblical judges
• Book of Judges

References

1. ^ TEXT: Judges 1:1-2:5, Grace Baptist Church

• This article incorporates text from Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897), a publication now in the public domain.

External links

• Book of Judges article (Jewish Encyclopedia)

Othniel Tribe of Judah
Preceded by Joshua	Judge of Israel	Succeeded by Ehud