So the sons of Israel did (A)what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and they (B)forgot the Lord their God and (C)served the Baals and the [a]Asheroth. Then the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, so that He sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim, king of [b]Mesopotamia; and the sons of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim for eight years.

The First Judge Frees Israel

But the sons of Israel cried out to the Lord, and the Lord raised up a deliverer for the sons of Israel to set them free, (D)Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother. 10 And (E)the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he judged Israel. When he went to war, the Lord handed over to him Cushan-rishathaim king of [c]Mesopotamia, so that [d]he prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim. 11 Then the land was at rest for forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.

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Footnotes

  1. Judges 3:7 I.e., wooden symbols of a female deity (Asherah)
  2. Judges 3:8 Heb Aram-naharaim
  3. Judges 3:10 Heb Aram
  4. Judges 3:10 Lit his hand was strong

Othniel

The Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, forgetting the Lord their God and serving the Baals and the Asherahs.(A) Therefore the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram-naharaim, and the Israelites served Cushan-rishathaim eight years. But when the Israelites cried out to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for the Israelites who delivered them, Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.(B) 10 The spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he judged Israel; he went out to war, and the Lord gave King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram into his hand, and his hand prevailed over Cushan-rishathaim.(C) 11 So the land had rest forty years. Then Othniel son of Kenaz died.

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