Judges 3:10

KJV

And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the Spirit {H7307} of the LORD {H3068} came upon him, and he judged {H8199} Israel {H3478}, and went out {H3318} to war {H4421}: and the LORD {H3068} delivered {H5414} Chushanrishathaim {H3573} king {H4428} of Mesopotamia {H763} into his hand {H3027}; and his hand {H3027} prevailed {H5810} against Chushanrishathaim {H3573}.

Complete Jewish Bible

The spirit of ADONAI came upon him, and he judged Isra'el. Then he went out to war, and ADONAI gave Kushan-Rish'atayim king of Aram into his hands; his power prevailed against Kushan-Rish'atayim.

Berean Standard Bible

The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he became Israel’s judge and went out to war. And the LORD delivered Cushan-rishathaim king of Aram into the hand of Othniel, who prevailed against him.

American Standard Version

And the Spirit of Jehovah came upon him, and he judged Israel; and he went out to war, and Jehovah delivered Cushan-rishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand: and his hand prevailed against Cushan-rishathaim.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Judges 3:10 marks a pivotal moment in the narrative of Israel's early history, introducing Othniel as the first of the judges raised up by God to deliver His people. This verse succinctly describes the divine empowerment of Othniel by the Spirit of the LORD, enabling him to lead Israel, engage in warfare, and achieve a decisive victory over Chushanrishathaim, the oppressive king of Mesopotamia, thereby initiating a period of peace for the nation.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Judges 3:10 immediately follows the initial phase of Israel's apostasy and subsequent oppression, as outlined in the cyclical pattern of the book of Judges. After the generation that witnessed God's mighty acts under Joshua passed away, Israel "did evil in the sight of the LORD and served the Baals" ([Judges 2:11](/judges/2-11 "Judges 2:11 - Israel's Apostasy")). This disobedience led to God allowing their enemies to oppress them, specifically Chushanrishathaim, king of Mesopotamia, for eight years ([Judges 3:8](/judges/3-8 "Judges 3:8 - Oppression by Chushanrishathaim")). The verse thus represents God's faithful response to Israel's cry for help ([Judges 3:9](/judges/3-9 "Judges 3:9 - Israel Cries Out to the Lord")), introducing the first deliverer in a series of divinely appointed leaders who would rescue the nation from its foreign oppressors. This pattern—apostasy, oppression, cry for help, deliverance—is the structural backbone of the book.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The period of the Judges, roughly spanning from the death of Joshua to the rise of the monarchy (circa 14th-11th centuries BC), was characterized by a decentralized tribal confederacy in Israel. There was "no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes" ([Judges 21:25](/judges/21-25 "Judges 21:25 - No King in Israel")). This lack of central authority often led to internal strife and vulnerability to external threats from surrounding peoples like the Mesopotamians, Moabites, Philistines, and Canaanites. Mesopotamia (Aram-Naharaim in Hebrew, meaning "Aram of the two rivers") refers to the region between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, indicating a powerful, distant threat. The concept of a "judge" (Hebrew: _shophet_) in this era was not merely a legal arbiter but a charismatic leader, often with military prowess, raised by God to deliver Israel from oppression and govern for a period.

* **Key Themes:** Judges 3:10 powerfully illustrates several overarching themes central to the book of Judges and the broader Old Testament narrative. Foremost is the theme of **Divine Empowerment**, where God's Spirit directly equips individuals for extraordinary tasks, signifying that human success in His service is contingent on His supernatural enablement. This verse also highlights **God's Faithfulness and Mercy**, demonstrating His readiness to respond to the genuine repentance and cries of His people, even when their disobedience has been profound. It initiates the theme of **God Raising Deliverers**, showcasing His chosen method of intervention through human agents, despite Israel's spiritual failings. Finally, the explicit statement that "the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim... into his hand" underscores the theme of **Victory Through God's Hand**, emphasizing that ultimate triumph belongs to God, who works through His chosen instruments. This divine initiative is crucial for understanding the entire period of the judges, as seen in subsequent deliverances like that of Ehud ([Judges 3:15](/judges/3-15 "Judges 3:15 - Ehud's Deliverance")) and Deborah ([Judges 4:4](/judges/4-4 "Judges 4:4 - Deborah's Leadership")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Spirit (Hebrew, _ruach'_):** The term "Spirit" (רוּחַ, _ruach_) in "the Spirit of the LORD came upon him" is profoundly significant. In the Old Testament, _ruach_ often refers to the breath, wind, or life force, but when associated with God (Yahweh), it denotes divine energy, power, and presence. Here, it signifies a special, temporary, and empowering anointing from God for a specific task. This is not the indwelling Spirit of the New Covenant but a supernatural enablement for leadership, prophecy, or military action, granting Othniel the necessary wisdom, courage, and strength beyond his natural abilities to fulfill God's purpose of deliverance.
* **Judged (Hebrew, _shaphat'_):** The verb "judged" (שָׁפַט, _shaphat_) is central to the role of the "judges" in this book. It encompasses more than merely adjudicating legal disputes. While it includes the administration of justice, its primary meaning in this context is to "govern," "rule," "deliver," or "vindicate." When Othniel "judged Israel," he acted as their leader, military commander, and spiritual guide, restoring order and righteousness after a period of chaos and oppression. His judging involved both leading them in war and then governing them in peace.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him,"**: This clause is the theological lynchpin of the verse, highlighting the divine initiative and empowerment. Othniel's ability to lead and deliver Israel was not inherent but a direct result of God's supernatural anointing. This phrase underscores that Othniel was God's chosen instrument, equipped by divine power for a specific mission.
* **"and he judged Israel,"**: Following the divine empowerment, Othniel assumed his God-appointed role as a "judge." As explained above, this involved leading the people, administering justice, and restoring order and fidelity to the covenant. This was the immediate outcome of the Spirit's coming upon him.
* **"and went out to war:"**: This signifies the practical, military aspect of Othniel's judgeship. The oppression by Chushanrishathaim necessitated a military confrontation, and Othniel, empowered by the Spirit, took the initiative to confront the oppressor, demonstrating his leadership and courage.
* **"and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand;"**: This is the crucial statement of divine victory. It explicitly attributes the success of the military campaign not to Othniel's strength or strategy alone, but to the LORD Himself. God "delivered"—literally "gave"—the enemy king into Othniel's power, emphasizing that the victory was fundamentally God's work through His chosen agent.
* **"and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim."**: This final clause confirms the decisive nature of the victory. "His hand prevailed" (literally, "his hand was strong") against the enemy king, signifying Othniel's complete triumph and the subjugation of the oppressor. This reiterates the success of the mission, directly linking Othniel's empowered action to the divine deliverance.

#### Literary Devices
Judges 3:10 effectively employs several literary devices to convey its message. The most prominent is **Repetition**, particularly with the name of the oppressor, "Chushanrishathaim." Its repeated mention ("the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim... into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim") emphasizes the formidable nature of the enemy and, by contrast, the magnitude of God's victory over him. The phrase "his hand" is also repeated, highlighting Othniel as the instrument of God's power. There is also clear **Divine Intervention** and **Divine Empowerment** explicitly stated, as "the Spirit of the LORD came upon him" and "the LORD delivered" the enemy. This direct attribution of power and victory to God establishes the theological framework for the entire book. The verse also serves as a **Foreshadowing** device, setting the pattern for subsequent judges who would also be empowered by the Spirit to deliver Israel, thereby establishing the cyclical narrative structure of the book.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Judges 3:10 serves as a foundational text for understanding God's active involvement in the affairs of His people, even amidst their spiritual failures. It powerfully illustrates that divine empowerment is essential for fulfilling God's purposes, and that true deliverance comes from the LORD, not human strength. This verse sets the stage for the entire book of Judges, demonstrating God's consistent pattern of responding to Israel's repentance with mercy and raising up charismatic leaders to restore order and freedom. It underscores the themes of God's sovereignty over nations, His faithfulness to His covenant, and His compassionate response to the cries of His distressed people.

* [1 Samuel 10:6](/1_samuel/10-6 "1 Samuel 10:6 - Saul Empowered by the Spirit")
* [Psalm 107:19-20](/psalm/107-19 "Psalm 107:19-20 - God Delivers from Distress")
* [Exodus 3:7-10](/exodus/3-7 "Exodus 3:7-10 - Moses Called as Deliverer")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Judges 3:10 offers profound insights for believers today, reminding us that our effectiveness in God's service is not dependent on our inherent abilities but on His empowering Spirit. Just as Othniel was supernaturally equipped for the task of deliverance, so too does God equip those He calls for His work in the world. This verse encourages us to recognize our limitations and to rely fully on the Spirit of the LORD for wisdom, strength, and courage in facing spiritual battles or fulfilling our God-given callings. It also serves as a powerful reminder of God's unwavering faithfulness; even when we falter or stray, His ear is open to our cries of repentance, and He remains committed to delivering us from oppression, whether spiritual, emotional, or physical. Our victories, like Othniel's, are ultimately God's victories, achieved through His power working in and through us.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life or service do you most need the empowering of the Spirit of the LORD, similar to Othniel?**
* **How does Othniel's reliance on God's Spirit challenge your own tendency to rely on personal strength or wisdom?**
* **Considering God's faithfulness to deliver Israel despite their repeated failures, how does this encourage you in your own struggles with sin or doubt?**

### FAQ
**What does "the Spirit of the LORD came upon him" mean in the Old Testament context, and how is it different from the New Testament understanding?**

Answer: In the Old Testament, when the "Spirit of the LORD came upon" an individual, it typically signified a temporary, special empowerment for a specific task or office, such as leadership, prophecy, or military action. This enablement was for a divine purpose, granting the person extraordinary abilities for a limited time. Examples include Othniel here, Samson ([Judges 14:6](/judges/14-6 "Judges 14:6 - Samson Empowered by the Spirit")), and Saul ([1 Samuel 10:6](/1_samuel/10-6 "1 Samuel 10:6 - Saul Empowered by the Spirit")). This was distinct from a permanent indwelling. In the New Testament, particularly after Pentecost, the Holy Spirit is described as permanently indwelling all believers ([Acts 2:38](/acts/2-38 "Acts 2:38 - Gift of the Holy Spirit"), [Romans 8:9](/romans/8-9 "Romans 8:9 - Spirit of God Dwells in Believers")), providing ongoing guidance, transformation, and empowerment for daily living and ministry, not just for specific, temporary tasks.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Othniel, as the first judge empowered by the Spirit to deliver Israel, serves as a significant type foreshadowing the ultimate Judge and Deliverer, Jesus Christ. Just as the "Spirit of the LORD came upon" Othniel, so too did the Spirit descend upon Jesus at His baptism ([Matthew 3:16](/matthew/3-16 "Matthew 3:16 - Jesus' Baptism")), anointing Him for His ministry of salvation. While Othniel delivered Israel from a temporal oppressor, Chushanrishathaim, Jesus came to deliver humanity from the far greater enemies of sin, death, and the devil ([Hebrews 2:14-15](/hebrews/2-14 "Hebrews 2:14-15 - Jesus Delivers from Death")). Othniel "judged Israel" by restoring order and justice, but Christ is the righteous King and ultimate Judge, to whom all judgment has been committed by the Father ([John 5:22](/john/5-22 "John 5:22 - The Father Judges Through the Son")). The victory Othniel achieved was a temporary respite; Christ's victory on the cross and His resurrection secured eternal deliverance and established His kingdom, bringing lasting peace and triumph over all spiritual foes ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Powers")). Thus, Othniel's divinely empowered leadership points forward to the perfect and everlasting reign of the Messiah, who truly takes away the sin of the world and brings ultimate salvation ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.