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.
When the people of Israel cried out to the LORD for help, the LORD provided a rescuer for them who would set them free—Othniel, the son of Kenaz, who was Caleb's younger brother.
God responded to Israel's desperate prayer by raising up Othniel as their first judge to rescue them from oppression.
📚 Historical Context
This occurs during the period of the judges (around 1380-1050 BC) when Israel had no king and repeatedly fell into cycles of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance. The Israelites had been enslaved by Cushan-rishathaim, king of Mesopotamia, for eight years because of their disobedience to God. Othniel was the first of the judges God raised up, and he was related to Caleb, one of the faithful spies from the wilderness period.
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