Bible Strands
Othniel
Othniel, Caleb's nephew, was the first judge of Israel who delivered the people from Cushan-Rishathaim.
From Easton's Bible Dictionary
Lion of God, the first of the judges. His wife Achsah was the daughter of Caleb (Josh. 15:16, 17; Judg. 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 (Judg. 3:8, 9-11). He is the only judge mentioned connected with the tribe of Judah. Under him the land had rest forty years.
Easton's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, 1897 — public domain, quoted in full and unedited.
Family
Parents
Kenaz
Partners
Achsah
Siblings
Seraiah
From STEPBible's TIPNR genealogy data. A relationship the data marks uncertain is not shown here.
First named at Joshua 15:17.
See Othniel in the family tree →
Verses that name Othniel
- Joshua 15:17 So Othniel son of Caleb’s brother Kenaz captured the city, and Caleb gave his daughter Acsah to him in marriage.
- Judges 1:13 So Othniel son of Caleb’s younger brother Kenaz captured the city, and Caleb gave his daughter Acsah to him in marriage.
- Judges 3:9 But when the Israelites cried out to the LORD, He raised up Othniel son of Caleb’s younger brother Kenaz as a deliverer to save them.
- Judges 3:11 So the land had rest for forty years, until Othniel son of Kenaz died.
- 1 Chronicles 4:13 The sons of Kenaz: Othniel and Seraiah. The sons of Othniel: Hathath and Meonothai.
- 1 Chronicles 27:15 The twelfth, for the twelfth month, was Heldai the Netophathite, from the family of Othniel. There were 24,000 men in his division.