Othniel

Othniel
Othniel from "Promptuarii Iconum Insigniorum"
Occupation	First Judge of Israel
Predecessor	None
Successor	Ehud

Othniel (/ˈɔːθniəl/ or /ˈɒθniəl/; Hebrew: עָתְנִיאֵל בֶּן קְנַז, Modern Otniel Ben Knaz, Tiberian ʻOṯnîʼēl Ben Qənáz) is the first of the Biblical Judges. The etymology of his name is uncertain, but may mean "God/El is my strength" or "God has helped me."

The Bible refers to Othniel as "Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb." The expression is inconclusive in Hebrew, 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.

The Talmud argues that Othniel was Caleb's brother.

When Caleb promises the hand of his daughter Achsah to whoever conquers the land of Debir, it is Othniel who rises to the challenge, thus becoming Caleb's son-in-law.

The historical reality of events described in the book of Judges is the subject of ongoing dispute among scholars, who vary in their opinions about how much of the book is historical. As to the story of Othniel in particular, biblical scholar Mark Zvi Brettler states, "The Ehud and Othniel stories contain clues that they are not meant to be read as depictions of the real past."

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