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Othniel
…10The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he became Israel’s judge and went out to war. And the LORD delivered Cushan-rishathaim king of Aram into the hand of Othniel, who prevailed against him.11So the landhad restfor fortyyears,until Othnielsonof Kenazdied.

Treasury of Scripture

And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.

the land

Judges 3:30
So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore years.

Judges 5:31
So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: butlet them that love himbe as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years.

Judges 8:28
Thus was Midian subdued before the children of Israel, so that they lifted up their heads no more. And the country was in quietness forty years in the days of Gideon.

Othniel

Judges 3:9
And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them,even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.

Joshua 15:17
And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.

1 Chronicles 4:13
And the sons of Kenaz; Othniel, and Seraiah: and the sons of Othniel; Hathath.

DeathDiedDiethKenazOthnielOth'ni-ElPeaceRestRestethDeathDiedDiethKenazOthnielOth'ni-ElPeaceRestResteth1.The nations which were left to prove Israel
5.By communion with them they commit idolatry
8.Othniel delivered them from Chushan-Rishathaim
12.Ehud from Eglon
31.and Shamgar from the Philistines

So the land had rest for forty years
This phrase indicates a period of peace and stability in Israel following a time of oppression. The "rest" signifies a cessation of conflict and a return to normalcy in daily life. The number forty often symbolizes a generation or a period of testing and completion in the Bible, as seen in the forty years of Israel's wandering in the wilderness (Numbers 14:33-34) and Jesus' forty days of fasting (Matthew 4:2). This rest was a direct result of Othniel's leadership and God's deliverance, highlighting the cyclical pattern of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance found throughout the Book of Judges.

until Othniel son of Kenaz died
Othniel, the first judge of Israel, was a nephew of Caleb, a prominent figure known for his faithfulness (Joshua 14:6-14). His leadership brought about the deliverance of Israel from the oppression of Cushan-Rishathaim, king of Mesopotamia (Judges 3:8-10). The mention of his death marks the end of the period of peace, suggesting that the stability of Israel was closely tied to the presence of a godly leader. This pattern is seen throughout Judges, where the death of a judge often leads to a return to idolatry and chaos. Othniel's role as a deliverer can be seen as a type of Christ, who brings ultimate deliverance and peace to His people.

1.Othniel
The first judge of Israel after the death of Joshua. He was the son of Kenaz and the younger brother of Caleb. Othniel is noted for delivering Israel from the oppression of Cushan-Rishathaim, king of Aram Naharaim.

2.Kenaz
The father of Othniel and a member of the tribe of Judah. Kenaz's lineage is significant as it connects Othniel to Caleb, a prominent figure in Israel's history.

3.The Land
Refers to the land of Israel, which experienced peace and rest during Othniel's judgeship.

4.Forty Years
A period of peace and stability in Israel, symbolizing a generation. The number forty often represents a time of testing or judgment in the Bible.

5.Death of Othniel
Marks the end of a period of peace and the beginning of a new cycle of disobedience and oppression for Israel.God's Deliverance
God raises leaders to deliver His people in times of distress. Othniel's leadership is a reminder of God's faithfulness to provide deliverance.

The Importance of Obedience
The peace experienced during Othniel's judgeship underscores the blessings of obedience to God. When Israel followed God's ways, they enjoyed rest and prosperity.

The Cycle of Sin
The book of Judges illustrates the repetitive cycle of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance. This cycle serves as a warning to remain vigilant in faith and obedience.

The Significance of Rest
The forty years of rest symbolize a period of divine blessing. It points to the ultimate rest believers find in Christ, encouraging us to seek spiritual rest in Him.

Legacy of Leadership
Othniel's life and leadership left a legacy of peace. Our actions and faithfulness can impact future generations, encouraging us to lead lives that honor God.1.What is the meaning of Judges 3:11?

2.How did Othniel's leadership lead to "forty years" of peace in Israel?

3.What can we learn from Othniel's faithfulness to God in Judges 3:11?

4.How does Judges 3:11 connect to God's promises of peace in the Bible?

5.In what ways can we seek God's peace in our own lives today?

6.How can we apply Othniel's example of obedience to our daily walk?

7.How does Judges 3:11 reflect God's role in providing peace and rest to Israel?

8.What historical evidence supports the 40 years of peace mentioned in Judges 3:11?

9.Why is Othniel's leadership significant in the context of Judges 3:11?

10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Judges 3?

11.Who is Othniel in historical or biblical context?

12.What are the key themes in the Book of Judges?

13.How does the promise that God makes wars cease (Psalm 46:9) align with the unceasing record of global conflicts throughout history?

14.Does the cyclical pattern of God sending deliverers (Judges 3:7-11) conflict with the notion of human free will or moral responsibility?So the land had rest

• “Rest” in Scripture points to God’s mercy breaking into turmoil (seeJoshua 21:44;Hebrews 4:8-9). After years of oppression under Cushan-Rishathaim, Israel experiences tangible peace.

• The rest is not merely political; it is spiritual—an answered cry after repentance (Judges 3:9-10).

• Similar cycles appear later: Ehud’s victory brings peace (Judges 3:30), and Deborah’s song ends, “So may all Your enemies perish, O LORD… and the land had rest forty years” (Judges 5:31). God consistently shows that obedience under godly leadership yields tranquility.

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for forty years

• The number “forty” often marks a full, God-ordained period—Israel’s wilderness years (Deuteronomy 8:2) and King David’s reign (1 Kings 2:11) alike.

• Here it signals an entire generation experiencing God’s favor. Compare Gideon’s era of forty years (Judges 8:28); each span underlines God’s patience and the completeness of His deliverance.

• Forty years of rest also allow Israel time to cultivate faithfulness, build families, and enjoy covenant blessings promised inLeviticus 26:6: “I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down with no one to frighten you.”

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until Othniel son of Kenaz died

• Othniel, Caleb’s nephew (Joshua 15:17), embodies courageous faith inherited from the generation that entered Canaan. His death marks the close of that exemplary leadership.

•Judges 2:10 warns that, after such leaders die, “another generation arose… who did not know the LORD,” and the cycle of apostasy begins anew.

•2 Chronicles 24:2 shows the pattern later under Jehoiada: as long as a righteous leader lives, the people follow the LORD. Othniel’s lifetime thus functions as a spiritual safeguard; his passing exposes Israel’s tendency to drift.

• The verse quietly foreshadows the need for a lasting, perfect Deliverer—fulfilled in Christ, whose reign of peace is eternal (Isaiah 9:6-7;Luke 1:33).

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summary

Judges 3:11 compresses an entire era into one verse. God grants deep, covenantal peace, extends it for a complete generation, and ties it to the life of a faithful judge. The rest shows His readiness to bless repentance; the forty years highlight His patient grace; the dependence on Othniel’s leadership underscores Israel’s need for continual godly guidance—ultimately met in the everlasting rule of the Messiah.

(11)The land had rest forty years.--Rabbi Tanchum interprets this to mean, "till forty years after the death of Joshua." For the very difficult chronology of this period, see the Introduction. Many questions have been raised, such as--Do the forty yearsincludeorexcludethe period of servitude? Is forty meant to be an exact or a general number? Are the various periods of rest and servitude continuous and successive, or do they refer to different parts of the Holy Land, and do they synchronise? Perhaps no final answer to these questions is as yet possible, and no less than fifty schemes of the chronology of the period of the judges have been attempted, which fact alone proves how insufficient are the data on which to decide.

Died.--Probablyduringthe forty years, unless we suppose that he attained a most unusual age. After this event the tribe of Judah sinks into the background till the days of David.

Verse 11. -And Othniel, etc. The arrangement of this verse suggests that Othniel lived through the whole forty years of rest, but this is highly improbable. The first part of the verse only belongs to the preceding section, which it closes quite naturally. The result of Othniel's victories was a rest of forty years (cf. ver. 30; 5:31; 8:28, etc.). The latter half of the verse -AndOthniel the son of Kenaz died - begins a new section, and is introductory to the first apostasy, which followed after his death.

CHAPTER 3:13-31

Parallel Commentaries ...

So the land
הָאָ֖רֶץ(hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776:Earth, land

had rest
וַתִּשְׁקֹ֥ט(wat·tiš·qōṭ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 8252:To be quiet or undisturbed

for forty
אַרְבָּעִ֣ים(’ar·bā·‘îm)
Number - common plural
Strong's 705:Forty

years,
שָׁנָ֑ה(šā·nāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8141:A year

until Othniel
עָתְנִיאֵ֥ל(‘ā·ṯə·nî·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 6274:Othniel -- a hero in Israel

son
בֶּן־(ben-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121:A son

of Kenaz
קְנַֽז׃(qə·naz)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7073:Kenaz -- an Edomite, also two Israelites

died.
וַיָּ֖מָת(way·yā·māṯ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4191:To die, to kill


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OT History: Judges 3:11 The land had rest forty years (Jd Judg. Jdg)