Othniel became their leader

7 The Israelis did things that Yahweh said were very evil. They forgot about Yahweh, their God, and they started to worship the idols that represented the god Baal and the goddess Asherah. 8 Yahweh became very angry with the Israelis. So he allowed king Cushan from Mesopotamia to conquer them and rule them for eight years. 9 But when they pleaded to Yahweh to help them, he gave them a leader to rescue them. He was Othniel, the son of Caleb’s younger brother Kenaz. 10 Yahweh’s Spirit came upon him, and he became their leader. He led an army that fought against the army of Cushan, and defeated them. 11 After that, there was peace in the land for 40 years, until Othniel died.