Cushan-rishathaim כּוּשַׁן רִשְׁעָתַ֫יִם
King of Mesopotamia who oppressed Israel
Who is Cushan-rishathaim in the Bible?
Cushan-rishathaim was a king of Mesopotamia who oppressed the Israelites for eight years as punishment for their disobedience to God (Judges 3:8). After the Israelites cried out for deliverance, God raised up Othniel, the son of Kenaz, as a judge and deliverer empowered by the Spirit of the Lord (Judges 3:9-10). Othniel defeated Cushan-rishathaim in battle, and the Lord gave the Mesopotamian king into his hand, bringing an end to the oppression (Judges 3:10). Following this victory, the land enjoyed forty years of peace. Cushan-rishathaim's role in Scripture illustrates the cycle of sin and redemption that characterizes the book of Judges, demonstrating how God uses foreign oppression to call His people back to obedience and how He provides deliverance through chosen judges.
Biography
Cushan-rishathaim was the king of Mesopotamia (Aram-naharaim) who oppressed the Israelites for eight years after they had done evil in the sight of the Lord. As a result of their disobedience, the Lord sold the Israelites into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim.
In response to the Israelites' cry for help, God raised up Othniel, the son of Kenaz and Caleb's younger brother, as a deliverer. Othniel was empowered by the Spirit of the Lord and went to war against Cushan-rishathaim. The Lord gave Cushan-rishathaim into Othniel's hand, and he prevailed over the Mesopotamian king.
As a result of Othniel's victory, the land had rest for forty years until Othniel's death. This event is part of the recurring cycle in the book of Judges, where the Israelites fall into sin, face oppression from foreign rulers, cry out to God, and are delivered by a God-appointed judge.
In Scripture
1 biblical bookJudges 2 verses
- Judges 3:8
"Then the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He sold them into the hand of Cushan-rishathaim king of Aram-naharaim, and the Israelites served him eight years."
- Judges 3:10
"The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he became Israel’s judge and went out to war. And the LORD delivered Cushan-rishathaim king of Aram into the hand of Othniel, who prevailed against him."
Names & Aliases
| Form | Language | Script |
|---|---|---|
| Named | Hebrew | כּוּשַׁן רִשְׁעָתַ֫יִם |
Cushan-rishathaim
in Jud 3:8-10 as a king of Mesopotamia who was chosen by God as his tool to chastise the Israelites for their idolatry. After Joshua's death the children of Israel soon began to affiliate themselves with the heathen peoples among whom they dwelt. This was the fertile source of all their troubles. God delivered ("sold") them into the hands of the heathen. C.-r. is the first whose name is given in this connection. Barring this short passage in Jud nothing is known of the man. Eight years the Israelites were under his dominion, when the Lord raised up a deliverer to them, Othniel, the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother--the first of the judges.
William Baur
ku'-shi: This name represents kushi, (in the original Septuagint Chousei, Chousi), either with or without the article. With the article (so in 2Sa 18:21-32 seven out of e