Judge Othniel

Othniel son of Kenaz, the younger kinsman of Caleb, first appears capturing Kiriath-sepher, also called Debir, and winning the hand of Caleb's daughter Achsah (Joshua 15:15–19, Judges 1:11–15). In Judges 3:7–11, after Israel served the Baals and the Asherahs, they were oppressed for eight years by Cushan-rishathaim, king of Aram-Naharaim. When they cried out, "the spirit of the LORD came upon" Othniel; he went to war, prevailed, and the land had rest forty years.

Othniel is the only judge from Judah, and his short story is the model for the whole book of Judges: sin, oppression, a cry for help, a deliverer, then rest. The oppressor's name means "Cushan of double wickedness", probably a scornful wordplay; his identity is unknown, and some scholars read "Edom" instead of "Aram", since the two words differ by one similar Hebrew letter. The Talmud (Temurah 16a) says Othniel restored by his reasoning 1,700 laws forgotten in the mourning after Moses' death. Debir is usually identified with Khirbet Rabud.