Cushanrishathaim

Cushan-Rishathaim is a figure in the Hebrew Bible described as the king of Mesopotamia who oppressed the Israelites for eight years during the period of the Judges. He is named in Judges 3:8–11, where the Lord delivers Israel from his rule through a human champion and declares a period of rest after the victory.

The name Cushan-Rishathaim appears in Hebrew as Cushan-rishathaim. The exact meaning of the compound is uncertain; Cushan may be a personal name or a geographical reference, while Rishathaim is often interpreted as meaning “double wickedness” or “twofold wickedness.” Some manuscript traditions or translations render the title as “king of Aram-Naharaim” rather than “king of Mesopotamia,” reflecting textual variants in ancient sources.

Biblical narrative and role. In the story, Israel cries out to the Lord, who raises up a deliverer, Othniel the son of Kenaz (Caleb’s younger brother). The Spirit of the Lord comes upon Othniel, and he leads Israel to victory over Cushan-Rishathaim, capturing the king and thereby restoring peace in the land for forty years. This victory marks the first of the cycles of judges that unfold in the Book of Judges, where deliverers arise to redeem Israel from oppression before the pattern repeats in later generations.

Historicity. Cushan-Rishathaim’s historical identity and the event’s precise chronology are subjects of scholarly discussion. The passage is typically understood within the biblical framework as a theological narrative describing Israel’s cycles of apostasy, oppression, supplication, and deliverance, rather than as a tightly documented historical account. The geographic designation reflects ancient Near Eastern political geography as used in the text.

See also: Judges, Othniel, Mesopotamia, Aram-Naharaim.