Joshua 15:16

16 And Caleb said, He that smites Kirjathsepher and takes it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.

Joshua 15:16 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 15:16

And Caleb said, he that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it,
&c.] Which he ordered to be proclaimed through the army that was under his command; and which was done not so much on the account of the difficulty of taking the place, through the number of the inhabitants of it, and its fortifications, which it seems had fallen again into the hands of the Canaanites, since it was taken by Joshua; nor through inactivity, diffidence, and timorousness in himself; but that others, who were officers, and men of valour under him, might gather some laurels as well as himself; and chiefly being under a divine impulse, he ordered this declaration to be made, whereby his brother Othniel, who was to be a judge in Israel, might appear a great man, and fit for such an office; and as an encouragement, he promises as follows:

to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife;
and to be married into the family of the chief prince of the tribe of Judah was a very great honour, as well as no doubt a very large dowry might be expected, and was given with her, and very probably the city of Debir was promised that should be taken. This Achsah seems to be a daughter of Caleb by a concubine, ( 1 Chronicles 2:48 1 Chronicles 2:49 ) .

Joshua 15:16 In-Context

14 And Caleb drove from there the three sons of Anak, Sheshai and Ahiman and Talmai, the sons of Anak.
15 From there he went up to the inhabitants of Debir, and the name of Debir before was Kirjathsepher.
16 And Caleb said, He that smites Kirjathsepher and takes 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 when he was taking her, he persuaded her to ask of her father for land to cultivate. Then she lighted off her ass, and Caleb said unto her, What wouldest thou?
The Jubilee Bible (from the Scriptures of the Reformation), edited by Russell M. Stendal, Copyright © 2000, 2001, 2010