Charles Ellicott Commentary Judges 3:11

"And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died." — Judges 3:11 (ASV)

The land had rest forty years.—Rabbi Tanchum interprets this to mean, “until forty years after the death of Joshua.” For the very difficult chronology of this period, see the Introduction.

Many questions have been raised, such as: Do the forty years include or exclude the period of servitude? Is forty meant to be an exact or a general number? Are the various periods of rest and servitude continuous and successive, or do they refer to different parts of the Holy Land, and do they synchronize?

Perhaps no final answer to these questions is yet possible. Indeed, no less than fifty chronological schemes for the period of the judges have been attempted, which fact alone proves how insufficient the data are on which to decide.

Died.—Probably during the forty years, unless we suppose that he attained a most unusual age. After this event, the tribe of Judah sinks into the background until the days of David.