Following victory, there is always a period of rest. So renders the initial Hebrew waw conjunction, which may also be translated “Then.” Contemporary English Version and New Jewish Publication Society’s Tanakh link this verse to what precedes with a simple “and,” while Revised English Bible has “Thus.” Good News Translation omits the connector altogether.

The land had rest forty years: Throughout Deuteronomy and much of the rest of the Old Testament the land is central. In most contexts it refers to the Promised Land, the land the Israelites were to inherit. Here this expression seems to designate all Israel, or at least the tribes concerned (see comments on verse 1.2). Saying the land had rest means the people in the land had rest. Contemporary English Version translates the land as “Israel,” but if possible, it is good to preserve the word land because of its literary and theological importance.

Had rest renders a Hebrew verb (shaqat) that occurs at key points in this book, especially at the end of certain episodes (verse 3.30; verse 5.31; verse 8.28). This Hebrew verb, meaning “keep quiet, be at peace,” is also used to describe “the land” in verse 11.23. A land at rest was no longer plundered by its enemies. In most languages it will not be possible to say that the land was resting or had rest. Alternative expressions might be “there was peace,” “was at peace,” and “there was no war.” But it is better to use a positive expression if possible. Translators should choose one expression here and use it consistently throughout the book to preserve the literary ties in the text.

Forty years is the time that the people enjoyed peace. The number forty occurs frequently in this book, where it refers to a long period of time ( verse 5.31; verse 8.28; verse 13.1). It is also a very important number throughout Scripture, as it rained for forty days and forty nights during the Flood, the Israelites walked forty years in the desert, and so on. Multiples and factors of the number forty occur throughout the book of Judges (“ten” in verse 12.11, “twenty” in verse 16.31, and “eighty” in verse 3.30). While in the Old Testament many numbers are symbolic, the translator will not always be able to identify the importance of each one, but will need to render each text as it stands.

Then Othni-el the son of Kenaz died: This sentence sets the pattern for all the judges’ episodes to come. Once rest or peace is attained, the leader eventually dies. Following the death of each judge, Israel lapses back into sin. Thus the mention of the judge’s death not only ends one judge’s story, but also prepares the reader for the next step in the drama of Israel’s life in Canaan. The Hebrew is careful to repeat that Othni-el is the son of Kenaz. In many languages the mention of the full name of a character rounds out the story and is the proper way to end an episode. It is also appropriate that a person’s full name be mentioned at his or her death. Thus this long expression should be maintained if possible. Otherwise, the translator may prefer Good News Translation‘s rendering for this clause, which is simply “and then Othniel died.”

We can translate this verse as follows:

• There was peace throughout the land for forty years. Then Othniel, son of Kenaz, died.

Quoted with permission from Zogbo, Lynell and Ogden, Graham S. A Handbook on Judges. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2019. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .