Judges 3:7-11

Othniel, the First Judge

7 The Israelites did what was evil in the Lord's sight; they forgot the Lord their God and worshiped the Baals and the Asherahs.
8 The Lord's anger burned against Israel, and He sold them to[a] Cushan-rishathaim[b] king of Aram of the Two Rivers,[c][d]and the Israelites served him eight years.
9 The Israelites cried out to the Lord. So the Lord raised up Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's youngest brother[e] as a deliverer to save the Israelites.
10 The Spirit of the Lord was on him, and he judged Israel. Othniel went out to battle, and the Lord handed over Cushan-rishathaim king of Aram to him, so that Othniel overpowered him.
11 Then the land was peaceful[f] 40 years, and Othniel son of Kenaz died.

Judges 3:7-11 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JUDGES 3

This chapter gives an account of the nations left in Canaan to prove Israel, and who became a snare unto them, Jud 3:1-7; and of the servitude of Israel under the king of Mesopotamia for their sins, from which they were delivered by Othniel, Jud 3:8-11; and of their subjection to the Moabites, from which they were freed by Ehud, who privately assassinated the king of Moab, and then made his escape, Jud 3:12-30; and of the destruction of a large number of Philistines by Shamgar, with an ox goad, Jud 3:31.

Footnotes 6

  • [a]. Lit into the hand of
  • [b]. Lit Doubly-Evil
  • [c]. Or Aram-naharaim; Mesopotamia
  • [d]. Gn 24:10; Dt 23:4; 1 Ch 19:6; Ps 60 title
  • [e]. Jdg 1:13
  • [f]. Jdg 3:30; 5:31; 8:28; 2 Ch 14:1,5-6
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