Othniel Ben Kenaz
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| Judges in the Bible |
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In the Book of Joshua: Joshua |
Othniel Ben Kenaz (Hebrew: עָתְנִיאֵל בֶּן קְנַז, Modern ʻOtniʼel Ben Qənaz Tiberian ʻOṯnîʼēl Ben Qənaz ; "lion of God") is the first of the Biblical Judges.
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[edit] Family
Othniel was related to Caleb, as his father Kenaz was Caleb's brother or Caleb's stepfather; both are plausible interpretations of Joshua 15:17. The Talmud (Sotah 11b) argues that Othniel was Caleb's stepbrother. When Caleb promises the hand of his daughter Achsah to him who will conquer the land of Debir[1], it is Othniel who rises to the challenge, thus becoming Caleb's son-in-law (Josh. 15:16, 17; Judg. 1:13).
[edit] Campaign as a Judge
Some thirty years after the death of Joshua, the Israelites once again turned to sin and fell under the subjection of Chushan-rishathaim, the king of Mesopotamia because of the transgressions against God. He oppressed them for a full eight years; when they "cried" unto God, Othniel was raised up to be their deliverer. He was the son of Kenaz, younger brother of Caleb (Judg. 3:8, 9-11). 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).
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- This article incorporates text from Easton's Bible Dictionary (1897), a publication now in the public domain.
[edit] External links
- Book of Judges article (Jewish Encyclopedia)
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Othniel Ben Kenaz
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| Preceded by Joshua |
Judge of Israel | Succeeded by Ehud |
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