Othniel, the First Judge

The Israelites did what was evil in the Lord’s sight; they forgot the Lord their God(A) and worshiped the Baals and the Asherahs. The Lord’s anger burned against Israel, and he sold them to King Cushan-rishathaim[a] of Aram-naharaim,[b](B) and the Israelites served him eight years.

The Israelites cried out to the Lord.(C) So the Lord raised up Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s youngest brother,(D) as a deliverer(E) to save the Israelites. 10 The Spirit of the Lord came on him, and he judged Israel. Othniel went out to battle, and the Lord handed over King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram to him, so that Othniel overpowered him. 11 Then the land had peace for(F) forty years, and Othniel son of Kenaz died.

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Footnotes

  1. 3:8 Lit Doubly-Evil
  2. 3:8 = Mesopotamia

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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