othniel Summary and Overview

lion of God, the first of the judges. His wife Achsah was the daughter of Caleb (Josh. 15:16, 17; Judg. 1:13). He gained her hand as a reward for his bravery in leading a successful expedition against Debir (q.v.). Some thirty years after the death of Joshua, the Israelites fell under the subjection of Chushan-rishathaim (q.v.), the king of Mesopotamia. He oppressed them for full eight years, when they "cried" unto Jehovah, and Othniel was raised up to be their deliverer. He was the younger brother of Caleb (Judg. 3:8, 9-11). He is the only judge mentioned connected with the tribe of Judah. Under him the land had rest forty years.

OTH'NIEL , the son of Kenaz, Jud 1:13, who displayed his valor in seizing the city of Debir, or Kirjath-sepher, for which exploit he was rewarded by the gift of the daughter of his uncle Caleb in marriage. Josh 15:17. Afterward he was made the instrument of delivering the Israelites from the oppression of the king of Mesopotamia. Judg 3:8-9. OU'CHES were sockets in which precious stones were set. Ex 39:6.

("lion of God".) 1 Chronicles 4:13. Son of Kenaz. frontKENAZ, on his relation to Caleb or "the Kenizzite".) Caleb's younger brother (Joshua 15:17; Judges 1:13; Judges 3:9). First of the judges. Took Kirjath Sepher (Debir), in the mountainous region of Hebron in Judah (Joshua 14:12-14), and received Achsah, his wife, as the prize. (See ACHSAH.) Van de Velde believes "the upper and nether springs" which she received was a spring rising on a hill N. of wady Dilbeh (two hours S.W. of Hebron), and brought down by an aqueduct to the foot of the hill. (But see DEBIR.) Othniel delivered Israel from Chushan Rishathaim, and gave "the land rest 40 years." (See CHUSHAN RISHATHAIM.) He had a son, Hathath (1 Chronicles 4:13-14), and "Meonithai". (See MEONOTHAI.)

In Judges 3:11 it is not asserted that Othniel lived to the end of the 40 years, which would make his life unduly long as the brother of Caleb; but simply, he died after restoring rest to the land. It was in answer to Israel's cry that Jehovah raised up Othniel as their "saviour" (Psalm 107:13-19; Psalm 50:15). "The Spirit of Jehovah" came upon his human spirit, enabling him to accomplish what his natural strength could not. "He judged Israel (not merely settling their internal disputes in justice as civil judge, but restoring their right in relation to their foreign oppressor, for it is added), and went out to war." "Judging" means lastly restoring Israel to its right attitude toward Jehovah, putting down idolatry (Judges 2:18-19; Judges 6:25-32). All this needed the sevenfold "spirit of wisdom and understanding," etc. Isaiah 11:2-3.)