Judges 3:11

11 And the land rested forty years; and (then) Othniel, the son of Kenaz, died.

Judges 3:11 Meaning and Commentary

Judges 3:11

And the land had rest forty years
As it should seem from the time of this deliverance; though, according to Ben Gersom and Abarbinel, the eight years' servitude are to be included in them; and Bishop Usher ^F18 reckons these forty years from the rest first settled in the land by Joshua; but the former sense seems best:

and Othniel the son of Kenaz died:
not at the end of the forty years; it is not likely he should live so long, but when he died is not certain; Eusebius ^F19 says he judged Israel fifty years.

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 Anual. Vet. Test. p. 42.
F19 Evangel. Praepar. l. 1O. c. 14. p. 502.

Judges 3:11 In-Context

9 And they cried to the Lord, and he raised to them a saviour, and (he) delivered them, that is, Othniel, the son of Kenaz, and the younger brother of Caleb. (And they cried to the Lord, and he raised up a saviour for them, and he delivered them; that was Othniel, the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.)

10 And the spirit of the Lord was in him, and he deemed Israel. And he went out to battle, and the Lord betook into his hand Chushanrishathaim, king of Syria (the king of Mesopotamia); and Othniel oppressed him.

11 And the land rested forty years; and (then) Othniel, the son of Kenaz, died.

12 Forsooth the sons of Israel added to do evil in the sight of the Lord (And the Israelites did more evil before the Lord); and he strengthened against them Eglon, the king of Moab, for they did evil in the sight of the Lord.

13 And the Lord coupled to him the sons of Ammon and Amalek; and he went, and smote Israel (and he went, and struck Israel), and had in possession the city of Palms.