Othniel

"Lion of God." The first of the biblical judges. He was the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.1 His wife Achsah was the daughter of Caleb.2 He gained her hand as a reward for his bravery in leading a successful expedition against the city of Debir.

Some thirty years after the death of Joshua, the Israelites fell under the subjection of Chushan-rishathaim, the king of Mesopotamia. He oppressed them for full eight years, when they "cried" unto Yahweh, and Othniel was raised up to be their deliverer.

Othniel is the only judge mentioned connected with the tribe of Judah. Under him the land had rest forty years.

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References

Notes

  1. Judg. 3:9, 11.
  2. Josh. 15:16, 17; Judg. 1:13.

Source

  • Easton, M.G. (1897). Easton's Bible Dictionary. New York: Harper & Brothers.

This article incorporates text from Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897) by M.G. Easton, which is in the public domain.