Charles Ellicott Commentary Judges 3:9

"And when the children of Israel cried unto Jehovah, Jehovah raised up a saviour to the children of Israel, who saved them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb`s younger brother." — Judges 3:9 (ASV)

Cried to the Lord. —In the time of their trouble, when they cried to You, You heard them from heaven; and according to Your manifold mercies You gave them saviours (Nehemiah 9:27). Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses (Psalms 107:13; Psalms 78:34; Psalms 106:44).

A deliverer. —Heb., moshia; Septuagint, “a saviour” (Acts 13:23). The same word as is used for the judges in Hebrews 9:27.

Othniel. —The name means “lion of God.” St. Jerome makes it mean “my time of God,” and spells it Athaniel.

The son of Kenaz. —(See Judges 1:13.) Josephus, to escape the apparent improbability of a brother of Caleb being young enough to marry Caleb’s daughter when Caleb was past eighty-five, calls him “a person of the tribe of Judah.” He rightly regards the events of Judges 17-21 as preceding the judgeship of Othniel; but they can hardly have happened during the oppression of Cushan-Rishathaim.