Othniel | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Othniel fromPromptuarii Iconum Insigniorum | |||||||||||||||
| Born | Othniel Ben Kenaz c. 1728 (1728)/1588 (1588)BCE | ||||||||||||||
| Occupation | First Judge of Israel | ||||||||||||||
| Predecessor | Joshua | ||||||||||||||
| Successor | Ehud | ||||||||||||||
| Spouse | Achsah (wife/cousin) | ||||||||||||||
| Father | Kenaz | ||||||||||||||
| Relatives | Caleb (uncle/father-in-law) | ||||||||||||||
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| Judges in the Hebrew Bible שופטים |
|---|
| Italics indicate individuals not explicitly described as judges |
| Book of Joshua |
| Book of Judges |
| First Book of Samuel |
Othniel (/ˈɒθniəl/;Hebrew:עָתְנִיאֵל בֶּן־קְנַז,ʿOṯnīʾēl benQǝnaz) was the first of thebiblical judges. The etymology of his name is uncertain, but may mean "God/He is my strength" or "God has helped me".[1]
TheHebrew Bible refers to Othniel as "Othniel the son ofKenaz, the brother ofCaleb".[2] The expression is inconclusive inHebrew, and has been taken to mean either that Othniel himself was the brother of Caleb, or that Othniel's father Kenaz was the brother of Caleb.[3][4]
TheTalmud argues that Othniel was Caleb's brother.[5]
When Caleb promises the hand of his daughterAchsah to whoever conquers the land ofDebir,[6] it is Othniel who rises to the challenge, thus becoming Caleb's son-in-law.[7][8]
In the first Book of Chronicles, Othniel is said to have a brother named Seraiah and two sons, Hathath and Meonothai.[9]
The historical reality of events described in theBook of Judges is the subject of ongoing dispute among scholars, who vary in their opinions about how much of the book is historical.[10] As to the story of Othniel in particular, biblical scholarMarc Zvi Brettler states, "The Ehud and Othniel stories contain clues that they are not meant to be read as depictions of the real past."[11]
According to the biblical account, some time after the death ofJoshua, the Israelites once again turned to sin and fell under the subjection ofChushan-rishathaim, the king ofAram-Naharaim inMesopotamia, because of the transgressions against God. Chushan-rishathaim oppressed them for eight years; when they "cried" unto God, Othniel was raised up to be their deliverer. He is the only Judge mentioned connected with theTribe of Judah. Under Othniel, peace lasted for forty years.[12]
After these forty years, Israel fell under the subjection ofEglon, a king ofMoab who defeated Israel with help fromAmmon andAmalek (Judges 3:12–13).
A tomb traditionally regarded as belonging to Othniel Ben Knaz is located inHebron in a traditional burial cave.[13] Located approximately 200 meters west of the Beit Hadassah building, it has been revered as a site for prayers for generations.[14]
The structure of the tomb corresponds to the way Jewish burial sites were made in the times of the Mishnah, as a family burial cave with compartments in the sides.[15]
Menachem Mendel of Kamenitz, the first hotelier in the Land of Israel[16] references his visit to the Tomb of Othniel in his 1839 bookSefer Korot Ha-Itim. He states, "outside of the city [of Hebron] I went to the grave of Othniel ben Kenaz and, next to him, are laid to rest 9 students this in niches in the wall of a shelter standing in a vineyard. I gave 20pa’res to the owner of the vineyard."[17][18]
The author and travelerJ. J. Benjamin mentioned visiting the tomb in his 1859 bookEight Years in Asia and Africa. He states, "Likewise outside the city, towards the south, in a vineyard, which was purchased by the Jews, are the graves of the father of King David and of the first Judge, Othniel, the son of Kinah."[19]
In recent years prayer services have been organized for the holiday ofLag BaOmer[20] and forTisha B'Av.[21][22]
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Othniel | ||
| Preceded by | Judge of Israel | Succeeded by |
