Othniel
Encyclopedia
Othniel is the first of the Biblical Judges
.
, as his father Kenaz was either Caleb's brother or Caleb's father; both are plausible interpretations of Joshua 15:17. The Talmud
(Sotah 11b) argues that Othniel was Caleb's brother. When Caleb promises the hand of his daughter Achsah
to him who will conquer the land of Debir
, it is Othniel who rises to the challenge, thus becoming Caleb's son-in-law (Josh. 15:16, 17; Judg. 1:13).
, the Israelites once again turned to sin and fell under the subjection of Chushan-rishathaim
, the king of Aram-Naharaim
in Mesopotamia
, because of the transgressions against God. He oppressed them for eight years; when they "cried" unto God, Othniel was raised up to be their deliverer. He was the son of Kenaz
, who was the younger brother of Caleb according Bible translations such as the New American Bible (Judg. 3:8). He is the only Judge mentioned connected with the Tribe of Judah
. Under Othniel, peace lasted for forty years.
After these forty years, Israel fell under the subjection of Eglon
, a king of Moab
who defeated Israel with help from Ammon
and Amalek
(Judges 3:12-13).
Biblical judges
A biblical judge is "a ruler or a military leader, as well as someone who presided over legal hearings."...
.
Family
Othniel was related to CalebCaleb
Caleb is a male given name. A character called Caleb is named in both the Bible and Quran.-Caleb:When the Hebrews came to the outskirts of Canaan, the land that had been promised to them by God, after having fled slavery in Egypt, Moses sent twelve spies into Canaan to report on what was...
, as his father Kenaz was either Caleb's brother or Caleb's father; both are plausible interpretations of Joshua 15:17. The Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
(Sotah 11b) argues that Othniel was Caleb's brother. When Caleb promises the hand of his daughter Achsah
Achsah
Achsah - "anklet", was Caleb ben Yefune's only daughter . She was offered in marriage to the man who would lead an attack on the city of Debir, also called Kirjath-sepher/Kirjath-sannah...
to him who will conquer the land of Debir
Debir
A Biblical word, debir may refer to:noun* The debir , the inner-most part of the Holy of Holies in Solomon's Temple.Personal name...
, it is Othniel who rises to the challenge, thus becoming Caleb's son-in-law (Josh. 15:16, 17; Judg. 1:13).
Campaign as a Judge
Some time after the death of JoshuaJoshua
Joshua , is a minor figure in the Torah, being one of the spies for Israel and in few passages as Moses's assistant. He turns to be the central character in the Hebrew Bible's Book of Joshua...
, the Israelites once again turned to sin and fell under the subjection of Chushan-rishathaim
Chushan-Rishathaim
Chushan-Rishathaim was king of Aram Naharaim or Northwest Mesopotamia. In the book of Judges God delivers the Israelites into his hand for eight years . However, they are delivered from him by Othniel, son of Kenaz .Rishathaim means double-wickedness....
, the king of Aram-Naharaim
Aram-Naharaim
Aram-Naharaim is a region that is mentioned five times in the Hebrew Bible. It is commonly identified with Nahrima mentioned in three tablets of the Amarna correspondence as a geographical description of the kingdom of Mitanni...
in Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia
Mesopotamia is a toponym for the area of the Tigris–Euphrates river system, largely corresponding to modern-day Iraq, northeastern Syria, southeastern Turkey and southwestern Iran.Widely considered to be the cradle of civilization, Bronze Age Mesopotamia included Sumer and the...
, because of the transgressions against God. He oppressed them for eight years; when they "cried" unto God, Othniel was raised up to be their deliverer. He was the son of Kenaz
Kenaz
Kenaz or Knaz - hunter - is the name of several persons in the Hebrew Bible. קְנָז "Hunter", Standard Hebrew Knaz, Tiberian Hebrew Qənaz / Qənāz...
, who was the younger brother of Caleb according Bible translations such as the New American Bible (Judg. 3:8). He is the only Judge mentioned connected with the Tribe of Judah
Tribe of Judah
According to the Hebrew Bible, the Tribe of Judah was one of the Tribes of Israel.Following the completion of the conquest of Canaan by the Israelite tribes after about 1200 BCE, Joshua allocated the land among the twelve tribes....
. Under Othniel, peace lasted for forty years.
After these forty years, Israel fell under the subjection of Eglon
Eglon (king)
Eglon was the king of Moab who suppressed Israel in the time of the Judges.He was the head of the confederacy of Moab, Ammon and Amalek in their assault. One day, Ehud came presenting a customary tribute and tricked Eglon and stabbed him with his sword, but when Ehud attempted to draw the sword...
, a king of Moab
Moab
Moab is the historical name for a mountainous strip of land in Jordan. The land lies alongside much of the eastern shore of the Dead Sea. The existence of the Kingdom of Moab is attested to by numerous archeological findings, most notably the Mesha Stele, which describes the Moabite victory over...
who defeated Israel with help from Ammon
Ammon
Ammon , also referred to as the Ammonites and children of Ammon, was an ancient nation located east of the Jordan River, Gilead, and the Dead Sea, in present-day Jordan. The chief city of the country was Rabbah or Rabbath Ammon, site of the modern city of Amman, Jordan's capital...
and Amalek
Amalek
The Amalekites are a people mentioned a number of times in the Hebrew Bible. They are considered to be descended from an ancestor Amalek....
(Judges 3:12-13).
External links
- Book of Judges article (Jewish Encyclopedia)