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[a] Cushan-rishathaim[b] king of Aram-naharaim,[c](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 Cushan-rishathaim king of Aram to him, so that Othniel overpowered him. 11 Then the land was peaceful(F) 40 years, and Othniel son of Kenaz died.

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Footnotes

  1. Judges 3:8 Lit into the hand of
  2. Judges 3:8 Lit Doubly-Evil
  3. Judges 3:8 = Mesopotamia

Othniel, the model judge

The Israelites did things that the Lord saw as evil, and they forgot the Lord their God. They served the Baals and the Asherahs.[a] The Lord became angry with Israel and gave them over to King Cushan-rishathaim of Aram-naharaim. The Israelites served Cushan-rishathaim eight years. But then they cried out to the Lord. So the Lord raised up a deliverer for the Israelites, Othniel, Kenaz’s son, Caleb’s younger brother, who rescued them. 10 The Lord’s spirit was in Othniel, and he led Israel. When he marched out for war, the Lord handed over Aram’s King Cushan-rishathaim. Othniel overpowered Cushan-rishathaim, 11 and the land was peaceful for forty years, until Othniel, Kenaz’s son, died.

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Footnotes

  1. Judges 3:7 Heb asherim; perhaps objects or a pole devoted to the goddess Asherah