Othniel Delivers Israel
Judges 3:7-11
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Jud.3.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויעשו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- הרע: ADJ,m,sg,def
- בעיני: PREP+NOUN,f,pl,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- וישכחו: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- אלהיהם: NOUN,m,pl,abs+3mp
- ויעבדו: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,pl
- את: PRT,acc
- הבעלים: NOUN,m,pl,def
- ואת: CONJ
- האשרות: NOUN,f,pl,def
Parallels
- Judges 2:11-13 (verbal): Almost identical introductory formula: Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, forgot Yahweh, and served the Baals and Ashtaroth.
- Judges 10:6 (verbal): Repeats the same charge—Israel did evil and served the Baals, Ashtoreths and the gods of the peoples—echoing the formula of apostasy.
- Judges 3:12 (structural): Begins a new cycle with the recurring line that Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, showing the book's cyclical pattern of sin and deliverance.
- Judges 6:1 (thematic): Links Israel's evil deeds to divine judgment—because they did evil the LORD delivered them into Midian's hand—illustrating the consequence-theme tied to 3:7.
Alternative generated candidates
- The Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the LORD; they forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asherahs.
- And the Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the LORD; they forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth.
Jud.3.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויחר: VERB,qal,imf,3,m,sg
- אף: ADV
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- בישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- וימכרם: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg+PRON,3,m,pl
- ביד: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- כושן: NOUN,prop,sg,abs
- רשעתים: NOUN,prop,sg,abs
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- ארם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- נהרים: NOUN,m,du,abs
- ויעבדו: VERB,qal,imperfect,3,m,pl
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- את: PRT,acc
- כושן: NOUN,prop,sg,abs
- רשעתים: NOUN,prop,sg,abs
- שמנה: NUM,card,f,pl,abs
- שנים: NOUN,f,pl,abs
Parallels
- Judges 2:14-15 (verbal): Same wording and idea: the anger of the LORD burns against Israel and he delivers/sells them into the hands of their enemies — the opening statement of the Judges cycle.
- Judges 2:16 (structural): Provides the complementary move in the cycle: after oppression God 'raised up judges' to deliver Israel — structural counterpart to 3:8's punishment.
- Judges 3:12 (thematic): A later cycle echoing 3:8: Israel does evil and is delivered into the hand of Eglon, serving him for years — parallels the pattern and the formulaic 'served... years' language.
- Judges 10:7-8 (thematic): Another explicit instance where 'the LORD sold them into the hands' of oppressors (Philistines/Ammon) and Israel served for a number of years — repeats the same pattern of divine anger and subjugation.
Alternative generated candidates
- The anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan-Rishathaim, king of Aram‑Naharaim; and the Israelites served Cushan‑Rishathaim eight years.
- The LORD's anger burned against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan‑Rishathaim, king of Aram‑Naharaim; and the Israelites served Cushan‑Rishathaim eight years.
Jud.3.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ויזעקו: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,pl
- בני: NOUN,m,pl,construct
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- אל: NEG
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- ויקם: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- מושיע: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- לבני: PREP
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויושיעם: VERB,qal,impf,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- עתניאל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- קנז: NOUN,prop,m,sg
- אחי: NOUN,m,pl,suff
- כלב: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- הקטן: ADJ,m,sg,def
- ממנו: PREP+PRON,3,m,sg
Parallels
- Judges 3:15 (verbal): Immediate parallel in the same chapter: same narrative formula — Israel cries to the LORD and the LORD raises up a deliverer (Ehud) — almost identical wording and function to the account of Othniel.
- Judges 2:16 (structural): Summarizes the recurring Deuteronomistic pattern found throughout Judges: 'The LORD raised up judges who delivered them,' framing the cycle of apostasy, cry, and divine deliverance that includes Othniel.
- Judges 6:7 (thematic): Another instance of Israel's cry to the LORD in the book of Judges (leading to Gideon's rise): echoes the pattern of oppression → cry → God acts to raise a deliverer.
- Exodus 2:23-25 (thematic): Prototypical deliverance narrative: the Israelites cry out from bondage in Egypt, God hears their cry and prepares a deliverer (Moses). Judges 3:9 reflects this larger biblical motif of God responding to Israel's cry by raising a savior.
Alternative generated candidates
- Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD, and the LORD raised up a deliverer for the Israelites: Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.
- And the Israelites cried out to the LORD, and the LORD raised up a deliverer for the Israelites and saved them: Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.
Jud.3.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותהי: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- עליו: PREP,3,m,sg
- רוח: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- וישפט: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- ישראל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ויצא: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,m,sg
- למלחמה: PREP+NOUN,f,sg,abs
- ויתן: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- יהוה: NOUN,prop,m,sg,abs
- בידו: PREP+NOUN,m,sg,abs+3,m,sg
- את: PRT,acc
- כושן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- רשעתים: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- מלך: NOUN,m,sg,cons
- ארם: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- ותעז: VERB,qal,perf,3,f,sg
- ידו: NOUN,m,sg,abs+PRON,3,m,sg
- על: PREP
- כושן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- רשעתים: NOUN,m,sg,abs
Parallels
- Judg.6.34 (verbal): Same formula — 'the Spirit of the LORD came upon him' (or 'clothed Gideon'), marking divine empowerment enabling Gideon to lead Israel and deliver them from oppression.
- Judg.11.29 (verbal): Identical wording — the Spirit of the LORD comes upon Jephthah, equipping him to act as judge and commander against Israel's foes (Ammon).
- Judg.15.14 (verbal): The Spirit of the LORD comes mightily upon Samson, empowering him for violent action against Israel's enemies — parallels the motif of Spirit-enabled deliverance and military victory.
- 1 Sam.10.10 (verbal): The Spirit of God comes upon Saul and he prophesies; similar language and the idea of the Spirit conferring authority and transformative action on a leader.
- 1 Sam.16.13 (thematic): Samuel anoints David and 'the Spirit of the LORD came upon David' — thematically linked as divine bestowal of leadership and capability for kingship and military success.
Alternative generated candidates
- The Spirit of the LORD came upon him; he judged Israel and went out to war. The LORD gave Cushan‑Rishathaim king of Aram into his hand, and his hand was mighty against Cushan‑Rishathaim.
- The Spirit of the LORD came upon him; he judged Israel and went out to war. The LORD gave Cushan‑Rishathaim king of Aram into his hand, and his hand proved strong against Cushan‑Rishathaim.
Jud.3.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ותשקט: VERB,qal,wayyiqtol,3,f,sg
- הארץ: NOUN,f,sg,def
- ארבעים: NUM,m,pl
- שנה: NOUN,f,sg,abs
- וימת: VERB,qal,perf,3,m,sg
- עתניאל: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- בן: NOUN,m,sg,abs
- קנז: NOUN,prop,m,sg
Parallels
- Judg.3.30 (verbal): Uses the same judges' refrain formula ‘the land had rest…’ to conclude Ehud’s episode (only the years differ), a structural/wording parallel.
- Judg.5.31 (quotation): Deborah/Barak victorious hymn closes with the identical formula ‘so the land had rest forty years,’ matching both wording and duration.
- Judg.8.28 (verbal): Gideon’s account likewise summarizes deliverance with a period of peace—‘the land was in quiet forty years’—a close verbal/thematic parallel.
- Judg.2.16 (thematic): Sets the broader cyclical pattern: Yahweh raises judges to deliver Israel—the theological framework behind the refrain of oppression, deliverance, and ensuing rest.
Alternative generated candidates
- The land was at peace for forty years; then Othniel son of Kenaz died.
- So the land had rest forty years. Then Othniel son of Kenaz died.
And the Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the LORD; they forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth.
The anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Cushan‑Rishathaim, king of Aram‑Naharaim; and the Israelites served Cushan‑Rishathaim eight years. And the Israelites cried out to the LORD, and the LORD raised up a deliverer for them—Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother—and he saved them.
The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to battle; the LORD gave Cushan‑Rishathaim king of Aram into his hand, and his hand prevailed over Cushan‑Rishathaim.
The land was at peace for forty years. Then Othniel son of Kenaz died.