Judges 3:7

THE MAIN BODY OF THE BOOK OF JUDGES (Judges 3:7-16:31);

THE JUDGESHIPS OF OTHNIEL; EHUD; AND SHAMGAR

I. OTHNIEL (Judges 3:7-11)

"And the children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah, and forgat Jehovah their God, and served the Baalim and the Asheroth. Therefore the anger of Jehovah was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years. And when the children of Israel cried unto Jehovah, Jehovah raised up a saviour to the children of Israel, who saved them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother. And the Spirit of Jehovah came upon him, and he judged Israel; and he went out to war, and Jehovah delivered Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand: and his hand prevailed against Cushan-rishathaim. And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died."

"Israel ... forgat Jehovah and served the Baalim and the Asheroth" (Judges 3:7). The words for the false gods here are the plural forms of Baal and the Ashera. The orgiastic licentiousness of the worship of these pagan deities appealed to the Hebrews, and again and again they departed from following the Lord to indulge in that sensual worship.

"The children of Israel served Cushan-rishathaim eight years" (Judges 3:8). "This reference is obscure, there being no other reference to this power anywhere in the Bible."[9] The cyclical pattern that predominates in Judges is clearly visible here. First, there is ease and prosperity for Israel. Then they forget God and serve the pagan gods. God becomes angry with them and delivers them into hardship and oppression. God pities them and raises up a saviour in the person of a distinguished "judge." Again Israel enjoys prosperity until that judge dies, and then the cycle is repeated.

It is of interest that the words "Cushan-rishathaim" mean literally, "Ethiopian of double iniquity,"[10] or "Nubian of double-dyed wickedness."[11] It is possible that this "title" of Israel's enemy here was a nickname for some well-known enemy of the Chosen People.

"Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother" (Judges 3:9). The expression `Caleb's younger brother,' may be applied grammatically to Kenaz, Othniel's father, which would mean that Othniel was actually Caleb's nephew. Also, as Hervey suggested, "Perhaps we should understand the word `brother' in its wider and very common sense of `kinsman or fellow tribesman.'"[12] Otherwise the chronology poses some problems. Caleb was past eighty years of age when Israel began the conquest of Canaan, and any "younger brother" of his would have been too old to accomplish the exploits mentioned here a whole generation after the death of the elders who survived Joshua.

"The Spirit of the Lord came upon him" (Judges 3:10). "This language is used in Judges of Gideon (Judges 6:34), Jephthah (Judges 11:29), and Samson (Judges 13:25; 14:6,19; and in Judges 15:14). In 1Samuel, the same thing is said of Saul (1 Samuel 10:10; 11:6) and of David (1 Samuel 16:13)."[13] We should NOT confuse the gift of the Holy Spirit to Christians with the endowment of God's Spirit in the various judges and rulers to whom that Spirit came of old. That endowment enabled the possessor to perform feats of superhuman strength and to do many other things pertinent to the "deliverance" of Israel in the various circumstances confronting the heroes of the Book of Judges. As Davis said, "This ministry of the Spirit should NOT be confused with that which accompanies regeneration (in the New Birth), which is permanent in nature and produces a change in life and character."

Myers observed that Judges 3:10 here gives a good indication of the character and work of a "judge."[14] Othniel possessed the Spirit of God. He declared war on Israel's enemy. He led an army against him and defeated him. He also evidently "led" or "ruled" Israel for some forty years.