Topical Bible: the Tribe of Judah: Furnished to Israel the First Judge

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The Tribe of Judah holds a prominent place in biblical history, being one of the twelve tribes of Israel and a key player in the unfolding narrative of God's chosen people. The tribe is named after Judah, the fourth son of Jacob and Leah, and is often associated with leadership, strength, and divine favor. Among its many contributions to the history of Israel, the Tribe of Judah is notably recognized for furnishing Israel with its first judge, Othniel.

Othniel: The First Judge

Othniel, a member of the Tribe of Judah, emerges as a significant figure during the period of the Judges, a time characterized by a cyclical pattern of Israel's disobedience, oppression by foreign powers, cries for deliverance, and subsequent rescue by judges raised up by God. Othniel's account is recounted in the Book of Judges, where he is depicted as a deliverer and a righteous leader.

In Judges 3:9-11 , the narrative describes how the Israelites, having fallen into sin and idolatry, were oppressed by Cushan-Rishathaim, the king of Mesopotamia. In their distress, the Israelites cried out to the LORD, who raised up Othniel, the son of Kenaz and Caleb's younger brother, as a deliverer. The Spirit of the LORD came upon Othniel, enabling him to lead Israel to victory over their oppressors. The passage states: "The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel. He went out to war, and the LORD delivered Cushan-Rishathaim king of Aram into his hand. So Othniel overpowered him. Then the land had rest for forty years, and Othniel son of Kenaz died."

Significance of Othniel's Leadership

Othniel's role as the first judge is significant for several reasons. Firstly, his leadership marks the beginning of the era of the judges, a period in which God raised up leaders to deliver Israel from the consequences of their disobedience. Othniel's success as a judge is attributed to the empowerment of the Spirit of the LORD, highlighting the divine origin of his authority and the importance of spiritual leadership.

Secondly, Othniel's connection to Caleb, a prominent figure from the Tribe of Judah known for his faithfulness and courage during the exploration of Canaan, underscores the tribe's legacy of faith and leadership. Caleb's inheritance of Hebron and his role in the conquest of the Promised Land further solidify the Tribe of Judah's reputation as a leading tribe in Israel.

The Tribe of Judah's Legacy

The Tribe of Judah's contribution to Israel's history extends beyond the period of the judges. As the tribe from which King David and ultimately Jesus Christ descended, Judah holds a central place in the biblical narrative of redemption and messianic prophecy. The tribe's emblem, the lion, symbolizes strength and kingship, reflecting its enduring legacy as a leader among the tribes of Israel.

In summary, the Tribe of Judah's provision of Israel's first judge, Othniel, is a testament to its foundational role in the spiritual and political life of the nation. Through Othniel's leadership, the tribe exemplified the qualities of faith, courage, and divine empowerment that would characterize its future contributions to the unfolding account of God's people.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Judges 3:9
And when the children of Israel cried to the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Blessing of Jacob Upon Judah. (Gen. Xlix. 8-10. )
... the blessing of Jacob, in which the tribe of Judah ... of Issachar and Zebulun are
subordinate to Judah; that Reuben ... in Genesis alone that we are furnished with the ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the blessing of jacob upon.htm

Canaan
... to the Philistines, and was crowned King of Israel. ... It has been said above that Judah
was a ... Kenite means "smith," and the tribe furnished those itinerant ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter ii canaan.htm

Chapter xlix
... Aside from that, Reuben never furnished a prominent leader for Israel ... so far as He
displays the characteristics of "the Lion of the tribe of Judah." Note how ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xlix.htm

The Promise in 2 Samuel, Chap. vii.
... a temporary [Pg 137] superiority to the tribe from which ... The commentary on it is
furnished by Psalm 89:31 ... whom, according to Genesis 49:10, Judah's dominion is ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the promise in 2 samuel.htm

The History of Joseph the Carpenter.
... to him in a dream the prince of the angels, the holy Gabriel, furnished with a ... Joseph
the son of David, whose spouse Mary was, was of the tribe of Judah. ...
/.../unknown/the history of joseph the carpenter/the history of joseph the.htm

Treatise on Christ and Antichrist.
... Him in power with spiritual eyes, being furnished (for their ... Christ springs from
the tribe of Judah, so Antichrist ... to Samson, who sprang from the tribe of Dan ...
/.../treatise on christ and antichrist.htm

On the Offices of Our Lord Jesus Christ
... Hebrews 7:28; v, 3.) But the Messiah was of the tribe of Judah, (vii, 14 ... John
17:2,) that "unto Him every knee may bow." God also furnished or supplied Him ...
/.../arminius/the works of james arminius vol 1/disputation 14 on the offices.htm

The Prophet Amos.
... as, after the expulsion of the tribe of Levi ... from Kir, Amos 9:7. This circumstance
furnished the natural ... strictly to separate the boundaries of Judah from those ...
/.../hengstenberg/christology of the old testament/the prophet amos.htm

An Exposition on the First Ten Chapters of Genesis, and Part of ...
... O Judah, he hath set an harvest for thee, when I ... to an empty house, but to one well
furnished with all ... said unto me, Go, prophesy unto my people Israel" (Amos 7 ...
/.../bunyan/the works of john bunyan volumes 1-3/an exposition on the first.htm

The First Chaldaean Empire and the Hyksos in Egypt
... isolated districts, and by thus restricting each tribe to a ... are said to have been
the first to employ ... by Faucher-Gudin, from a photograph furnished by Marcel ...
/.../chapter ithe first chaldaean empire.htm