Othniel may have been a virtuous, spiritual man, as shown earlier by his faith in the Lord in the conquest of Debir (Judges 1:11–15), but the narrative here in chapter 3 is more about the Lord's saving of his people through Othniel than about who Othniel is.1
7 And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. They forgot the LORD their God and served the Baals and the Asheroth.