That is what your enemies have done ever since I appointed leaders over my people Israel. But I will give you peace and rest from all of them.“‘ “I tell you that I, the Lord, will set up a royal house for you.
A Passover Feast like that one had not been held for a long time. There hadn’t been any like it in the days of the judges who led Israel. And there hadn’t been any like it during the whole time the kings of Israel and Judah were ruling.
There was a time when Israel didn’t have kings to rule over them. But they had leaders to help them. This is a story about some things that happened during that time. There wasn’t enough food in the land of Judah. So a man went to live for a while in the country of Moab. He was from Bethlehem in Judah. His wife and two sons went with him.
I have moved from place to place with all the Israelites. I commanded their leaders to be shepherds over my people. I never asked any of those leaders,‘ Why haven’t you built me a house that has beautiful cedar walls?’ ” ’
The Spirit of the Lord came on Othniel. So he became Israel’s leader. He went to war. The Lord handed over to him Cushan- Rishathaim, the king of Aram. Othniel won the battle over him.