Add parallel Print Page Options

II. Stories of the Judges

Othniel. (A)Then the Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the Lord; they forgot the Lord, their God, and served the Baals and the Asherahs,[a] and the anger of the Lord flared up against them. He sold them into the power of Cushan-rishathaim,[b] king of Aram Naharaim; and the Israelites served Cushan-rishathaim for eight years. But when the Israelites cried out to the Lord,(B) he raised up a savior for them, to save them. It was Othniel, son of Caleb’s younger brother Kenaz.(C)

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. 3:7 The Asherahs: Asherah was an important goddess, whose presence in the cult was represented by a wooden pole, also called an “asherah”; see notes on Ex 34:13 and Dt 7:5. Here the plural is used to refer to goddesses in general.
  2. 3:8 Cushan-rishathaim: this king is not known from other biblical or extrabiblical sources. His title, “king of Aram Naharaim,” indicates that he was a Mesopotamian ruler.

Othniel

The Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord; they forgot the Lord(A) their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs.(B) The anger of the Lord burned against Israel so that he sold(C) them into the hands of Cushan-Rishathaim(D) king of Aram Naharaim,[a](E) to whom the Israelites were subject for eight years. But when they cried out(F) to the Lord, he raised up for them a deliverer,(G) Othniel(H) son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, who saved them.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Judges 3:8 That is, Northwest Mesopotamia