Joshua 15:13-19

[13] And unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a part among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua, the father of Anak, which city is Hebron. [14] And Caleb drove thence the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak. [15] And he went up thence to the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was Kirjathsepher. [16] And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife. [17] And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife. [18] And it came to pass, as she came unto him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wouldest thou? [19] Who answered, Give me a blessing; for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And he gave her the upper springs, and the nether springs.

What is the context of Joshua 15:13-19?

What does Joshua 15:13-19 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

The writer probably included the record of Caleb"s success in driving out the Canaanites in his area to highlight the effect of faith in the settling of the land. Othniel ( Joshua 15:17) was one of Israel"s prominent judges ( Judges 3:9), probably the first whom God raised up in Israel after Joshua"s death. He was Caleb"s younger brother (Heb. "ah, cf. Judges 1:13; Judges 3:9) and bore the spiritual characteristics of his sibling. Some translators and commentators believed Othniel was Caleb"s nephew, but this seems unlikely.

"Acsah"s request for the springs is reminiscent of Rebekah"s meeting with Isaac ( Genesis 24:61-67) in which she also (1) approaches riding on an animal; (2) descends; (3) makes a request; and (4) receives the desired result from the person whom she approaches. Both accounts involve an inheritance of the blessing that God had promised to Abraham. This is probably the reason for the inclusion of this particular note." ^[1]