And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.
The verse stands within the account of the conquering of the Canaanites and the division and settling of the Promised Land among the tribes found in Joshua 11-21. That larger narrative of division and settling shows Israel's lack of faith and slowness, yet it ends with the assurance that God fulfilled every good thing He had promised. Before Othniel's exploit, the brave old warrior Caleb had driven out the sons of Anak and taken Hebron for his possession.
Othniel was the young son of Kenaz and nephew of Caleb, who captured Kirjath-sepher and received in fulfillment of Caleb's promise Achsah, Caleb's daughter and his own cousin, as his bride. Caleb's action proves the faith he had declared forty-five years before that Israel was able to take the land held by the giants. He went against them with only his own immediate followers and succeeded because he wholly followed the Lord the God of Israel, which is the secret of all success.
Achsah's coming to Othniel led to the request for a field and for upper and nether springs of water as a priceless blessing. The record teaches that when life seems a dry, barren south land it is privilege to ask the heavenly Father for blessing. Through Christ Jesus is received the living water of salvation that quenches thirst for earthly pleasure and becomes within a well springing up to eternal life. That gift makes the receiver a lasting benefactor who imparts to others.
The verse stands within the account of the conquering of the Canaanites and the division and settling of the Promised Land among the tribes found in Joshua 11-21. That larger narrative of division and settling shows Israel's lack of faith and slowness, yet it ends with the assurance that God fulfilled every good thing He had promised. Before Othniel's exploit, the brave old warrior Caleb had driven out the sons of Anak and taken Hebron for his possession.
Othniel was the young son of Kenaz and nephew of Caleb, who captured Kirjath-sepher and received in fulfillment of Caleb's promise Achsah, Caleb's daughter and his own cousin, as his bride. Caleb's action proves the faith he had declared forty-five years before that Israel was able to take the land held by the giants. He went against them with only his own immediate followers and succeeded because he wholly followed the Lord the God of Israel, which is the secret of all success.
Achsah's coming to Othniel led to the request for a field and for upper and nether springs of water as a priceless blessing. The record teaches that when life seems a dry, barren south land it is privilege to ask the heavenly Father for blessing. Through Christ Jesus is received the living water of salvation that quenches thirst for earthly pleasure and becomes within a well springing up to eternal life. That gift makes the receiver a lasting benefactor who imparts to others.