‘ And the land had rest forty years, and Othniel the son of Kenaz died.'
This really means that the land had rest ‘for a generation'. Forty years is a round number signifying a generation. It is also a significant number for forty is a period that signifies a time of testing and a time of waiting and a time of preparation (Genesis 7:4; Genesis 7:12; Genesis 7:17; Genesis 8:6; Genesis 25:20; Genesis 26:34; Exodus 16:35; Exodus 34:28; Numbers 13:25; Numbers 14:33-34; Deuteronomy 8:2; Deuteronomy 9:18; Joshuah Judges 14:7). The idea here is that they were under trial, waiting for the next period of testing. But notice what it meant. For a whole generation that part of Israel enjoyed rest and more or less faithfully served Yahweh.