Othniel: Lion of God, the first of the judges. His wife Achsah was the daughter
of Caleb
(Joshua 15:16,17; Judges 1:13) He gained her hand as a reward for
his bravery in leading a successful expedition against Debir (q.v.).
Some thirty years after the death of Joshua, the Israelites fell
under the subjection of Chushan-rishathaim (q.v.), the king of
Mesopotamia. He oppressed them for full eight years, when they
"cried" unto Jehovah, and Othniel was raised up to be their
deliverer. He was the younger brother of Caleb
(Judges 3:8,9-11) He is
the only judge mentioned connected with the tribe of Judah. Under him
the land had rest forty years.
