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oth´ni-el (×¢×ª× ×™×ל, ‛othnı̄'eÌ„l): A hero in Israel, son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother. He conquered Kiriath-sepher, later known as Debir, in the territory of Judah in the days of Joshua, and was given the daughter of Caleb, Achsah, to wife as a reward (, parallel found in ). He later smote Cushan-rishathaim, king of Mesopotamia, whom the children of Israel had served 8 years, and thus not only saved the Israelites, but by reviving national sentiment among them (compare Ant., V, iv, 3), and reestablishing government, became the first of those hero-rulers known as “judges.†The effects of his victory lasted an entire generation (40 years, -11). He had a son named Hathath () and probably another named Meonothai (compare recensio Luciana of Septuagint, at the place). In the days of David we find a family bearing the name of Othniel, from which came Heldai the Metophathite, captain of the twelfth month ().