The land had rest forty years. Othniel the son of Kenaz died.
Othniel was already a prominent warrior in Israel and lived in Debir in Judah (Joshua 15:15-17; Judges 1:11-13). Note again the early primacy of the tribe of Judah (cf. Judges 1:3-20; Judges 20:18). Having proved faithful earlier, Othniel was selected by God for more important service here. At the proper time God endowed Othniel with an increased measure of grace by placing His Spirit on this man (Judges 3:10; cf. Numbers 24:2; Judges 11:29; 1 Samuel 19:20; 1 Samuel 19:23; 2 Chronicles 20:14). The gift of the Spirit did not in itself guarantee success. There had to be cooperation with the Spirit for that, and there was increasingly less of both cooperation and success as judge followed judge (cf. Judges 6:34; Judges 11:29; Judges 13:25; Judges 14:6; Judges 14:19; Judges 15:14).