articlesforchristians

There were some nations that God did not have Joshua drive out from the promise land. Those nations were left as a test for Israel.

• Judges 3:1-5
  •  Now these are the nations which the Lord left [in order] to test Israel by them (that is, all [the people of Israel] who had not [previously] experienced any of the wars in Canaan; 
  • only in order that the generations of the sons of Israel might be taught war, at least those who had not experienced it previously). 
  • The remaining nations are:
    • the five lords (governors) of the Philistines,
    • all the Canaanites,
    • the Sidonians,
    • and the Hivites who lived on Mount Lebanon from Mount Baal-hermon to the entrance of Hamath. 
  • They were [allowed to remain] for the testing of Israel, to determine whether Israel would listen to and obey the commandments of the Lord, which He had commanded their fathers (ancestors) through Moses.

Israel was commanded not to intermarry.

• Deuteronomy 7:3-4
  • You shall not intermarry with them; you shall not give your daughter to his son, nor shall you take his daughter for your son; 
  • for they will turn your sons away from following Me to serve other gods; then the anger of the Lord will be kindled and burn against you and He will quickly destroy you. 

Israel disobeyed.

• Judges 3:5-6
  • And the Israelites lived among the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites; 
  • and they took their daughters for themselves as wives and gave their own daughters to their sons, and served their [pagan] gods.

God allowed Cushan-rishathaim the king of Mesopotamia to put them into bondage.

• Cushan-rishathaim is often interpreted to mean “Cushan of double wickedness” or “Cushan of double iniquity,” reflecting his oppressive rule over Israel.
• Cushan-rishathaim is described as the king of Aram Naharaim, which is often identified with the region of Mesopotamia, specifically the area between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
• Aram Naharaim is better known as the Kingdom of Mitanni. This Kingdom came on the scene around 1600 BC

After 8 years of bondage the Children of Israel cried out to God.

• Judges 3:9
  • But when the Israelites cried out to the Lord [for help], the Lord raised up a man to rescue the people of Israel, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother. 

Othniel

• Othniel means “lion of God.”
• He was Caleb’s younger brother.
  • Caleb was one of the two honest 12 spies.
    • Numbers 13:6 from the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh
• We 1st learn about Othniel in Joshua 15:13-17
  •  Now to Caleb the son of Jephunneh Joshua gave a portion among the sons of Judah, as the Lord commanded him, namely, Kiriath-arba, Arba being the father of Anak (that is, Hebron). 
  • So Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak: Sheshai and Ahiman and Talmai, the children of Anak. 
  • Then he went up from there against the people of Debir; Debir was formerly named Kiriath-sepher. 
  • Caleb said, “I will give Achsah my daughter as wife to the man who attacks Kiriath-sepher and captures it.” 
  • And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s brother, captured it; so he gave him Achsah his daughter as a wife.

This battle corresponds to the downfall of Aram Naharaim in the 14th century.