Othniel Ben Kenaz

Othniel from "Promptuarii Iconum Insigniorum "

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.

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, 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 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).

See also

• Biblical judges
• Book of Judges

References

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Easton, Matthew George (1897). Easton's Bible Dictionary (New and revised ed.). T. Nelson and Sons. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)

External links

• Book of Judges article (Jewish Encyclopedia)