The land had rest for forty years. Then Othniel son of Kenaz died. — The rest formula 'the land had rest for forty years' denotes a period of peace and security. The forty-year duration—significant in biblical tradition—suggests a full generational period. Yet the immediate transition 'Then Othniel... died' indicates that the rest's temporal boundary coincided exactly with Othniel's death, suggesting that peace depended entirely on his living presence and Spirit-empowerment.

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