Mesopotamian Oppression (jan 1, 1350 BC – jan 1, 1342 BC)

Description:

CUSHAN-RISHATHAIM

(Cuʹshan-rish·a·thaʹim) [possibly, Cushite (Ethiopian) of the Double Wickedness].

A king of Mesopotamia from whose domination Othniel liberated the Israelites after eight years of servitude. He is also called “the king of Syria.” (Jg 3:7-11) Some view the second half (“rishathaim”) of this composite name as the name of a place or region, while others translate it to mean “Double Wickedness.” “Cushan” is used at Habakkuk 3:7 to parallel Midian; however, it is stated that King Cushan-rishathaim was from Mesopotamia (Heb., ʼAramʹ na·haraʹyim; compare Ge 24:10, where the same term is used to describe the location of the city of Nahor in Syria). A list of Pharaoh Ramses III mentions a district in northern Syria called Qusanaruma, and this is suggested by some scholars to have been the possible seat of this king’s domain. Cushan-rishathaim was Israel’s first major oppressor during the period of the Judges.

Israel’s first oppression by foreign kings due to disobedience lasted for eight years. When they “began to call to Jehovah for aid,” He raised up Othniel to deliver them. With Jehovah’s spirit upon him, Othniel defeated Cushan-rishathaim, “the king of Syria,” and took general oversight and rendered judicial decisions among his brothers.​—Jg 3:8-11.

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