1911 Encyclopædia Britannica/Othniel

OTHNIEL, in the Bible, a clan settled at Debir or Kirjathsepher in S. Palestine (Judg. i. 12 sqq.. Josh. xv. 16 sqq., contrast Josh. x. 38 seq.), described as the "brother" of Caleb. The name appears in Judg. iii. 7-11 (see Judges), as that of a hero who delivered Israel from a North Syrian king. That a king from the Euphrates who had subjugated Canaan should have been defeated by a clan of the south of Palestine has been doubted. There is no evidence of such a situation, and it has been conjectured that Cushan-Rishathaim (the name suggests “C. of double wickedness”!) of Aram (ארם) has arisen from some king (cp. Husham, Gen. xxxvi. 34) or clan (cp. Cush, Num. xii. 1; Cushan, Hab. iii. 7) of Edom (אֱדוֹם) to the south or south-east of Palestine. Othniel recurs in 1 Chron. iv. 13.

See A. Klostermann, Gesch. d. Volkes Israel (1896), p. 122; Cheyne, Ency. Bib. col. 969 seq. and references; also the literature to Judges.