RighteousOld Testament

Righteous Othniel

Old Testament era; the period of the Judges of Israel, following the death of Joshua. No date of death is recorded.

Also known as Othniel son of Kenaz · Othniel the Judge

The first of the judges of Israel, raised up by God to deliver his people.

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Commemorated as

The Righteous Othniel, First of the Judges of Israel

Life

The Righteous Othniel was the first of the judges of Israel, raised up by God to deliver his people after the death of Joshua. His account is preserved in the books of Joshua and Judges, where he is named as the son of Kenaz and a kinsman of Caleb, of the tribe of Judah.

Othniel first appears as the warrior who captured the city of Debir, also called Kiriath-sepher, and so won the hand of Achsah, the daughter of Caleb. When Israel afterward fell into servitude under Cushan-rishathaim, king of Aram-Naharaim, Othniel was raised up to deliver the people and judged Israel, and the land had rest for forty years.

In the Orthodox Church he is venerated among the Holy Forefathers, the righteous figures of the Old Covenant, and is commemorated on the Sunday before the Nativity of Christ.

Timeline3 momentsReadHide

The conquest under JoshuaCapture of DebirOthniel takes the city of Debir (Kiriath-sepher), which Caleb had offered in exchange for the hand of his daughter, and marries Achsah, receiving the upper and lower springs as a dowry.
After the death of JoshuaIsrael's servitude under Cushan-rishathaimIsrael falls away from God and is given over to Cushan-rishathaim, king of Aram-Naharaim, for eight years (Judges 3:8).
The period of the JudgesRaised up as deliverer and judgeIn answer to the people's cry, God raises up Othniel, who delivers Israel from Cushan-rishathaim and judges the people; the land has rest for forty years (Judges 3:9-11).

Contributions & Legacy

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Family and Lineage

Othniel is named in Scripture as the son of Kenaz. His relationship to Caleb son of Jephunneh is variously described in the sources: the biblical text presents him as either Caleb's younger brother or as the son of Caleb's brother Kenaz, and Jewish tradition (the Talmud) holds that Othniel was Caleb's brother. He is associated with the tribe of Judah, and is the only one of the judges connected with that tribe.

According to 1 Chronicles, Othniel had a brother named Seraiah and two sons, Hathath and Meonothai.

The Capture of Debir and Marriage to Achsah

Caleb offered his daughter Achsah in marriage to whoever would attack and take the city of Debir, also called Kiriath-sepher (or Kiriath-sannah). Othniel took the city and so was permitted to marry Achsah, becoming Caleb's son-in-law. This account is recorded in Joshua 15:16-19 and Judges 1:9-15.

After the marriage, Achsah asked her father for springs of water, and Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs as a dowry.

Deliverer and Judge of Israel

After the death of Joshua, the Israelites turned away from God and were given over into servitude under Cushan-rishathaim, king of Aram-Naharaim (Mesopotamia), for eight years, as recorded in Judges 3:8. When the people cried out to the Lord, He raised up Othniel to deliver them.

Othniel judged Israel and overcame Cushan-rishathaim, and the land had rest for forty years, according to the account in Judges 3:9-11. As the first of the judges, he stands at the head of that succession of leaders whom God raised up to deliver Israel in the period between Joshua and the kings.

Veneration in Orthodox Tradition

The Orthodox Church venerates Othniel among the Holy Forefathers — the righteous men and women of the Old Covenant who awaited the coming of Christ. He is commemorated on the Sunday before the Nativity of Christ, the Sunday of the Holy Forefathers, on which the lineage and the faithful of Israel are remembered.

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Synaxis of the Holy Forefathers and Foremothers

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Family

Othniel son of Kenaz, the first of the judges of Israel, was kinsman to Caleb and delivered Israel from the king of Aram-Naharaim.

His elder kinsman, the faithful spy, whose daughter Achsah he won in marriage by capturing Debir.

Righteous Caleb

His wife, daughter of Caleb.

Achsah

Related Saints1 saintShowHide

Saints connected to his life, mission, and place in Orthodox tradition.

The judge raised up after him to deliver Israel from Eglon of Moab.

Righteous Ehud

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Sources: OCA Synaxarion (oca.org), Lives of the Saints