So Othniel son of Caleb's younger brother Kenaz captured the city, and Caleb gave his daughter Acsah to him in marriage. Othniel son of KenazThe name "Othniel" means "God is my strength" in Hebrew, which is fitting for a man who would later become Israel's first judge. Othniel's lineage as the "son of Kenaz" places him within the tribe of Judah, a tribe known for its leadership and strength. Kenaz, his father, is often associated with the Kenizzites, a clan that was integrated into the tribe of Judah. This highlights the inclusivity and unity within the tribes of Israel, as well as the importance of familial ties in the narrative of the Israelites. Caleb’s younger brother
Caleb is a prominent figure in the Old Testament, known for his faithfulness and courage as one of the two spies who trusted in God's promise to give Israel the land of Canaan. Referring to Othniel as Caleb's "younger brother" emphasizes the close familial relationship and the continuation of Caleb's legacy of faith and bravery. This connection also underscores the importance of family heritage and the passing down of spiritual values and leadership qualities. captured it
The "it" refers to the city of Debir, previously known as Kiriath-sepher. The act of capturing the city demonstrates Othniel's bravery and military prowess, qualities that would later define his role as a judge. This victory is not just a physical conquest but also a spiritual one, as it represents the fulfillment of God's promise to give the Israelites the land. The capture of Debir is a testament to the faith and obedience of Othniel, reflecting the broader theme of divine assistance in the Israelites' conquests. Caleb gave his daughter Acsah
In ancient Israelite culture, marriages were often arranged to strengthen family alliances and ensure the continuation of family lines. Caleb's decision to give his daughter Acsah to Othniel as a reward for his bravery is significant. It reflects the high value placed on courage and faithfulness, as well as the importance of securing a godly lineage. Acsah's role in the narrative also highlights the influence and agency of women in biblical times, as she later demonstrates wisdom and assertiveness in securing resources for her family. to him in marriage
Marriage in the biblical context is not only a personal union but also a covenantal relationship that reflects God's relationship with His people. The marriage between Othniel and Acsah symbolizes the unity and continuity of God's promises through the generations. It serves as a reminder of the blessings that come from faithfulness and obedience to God's commands. This union also foreshadows the role Othniel will play as a judge, leading Israel with the same strength and faith that characterized his marriage and his victory over Debir. Persons / Places / Events 1. OthnielHe is the son of Kenaz and the younger brother of Caleb. Othniel is notable for his bravery and later becomes the first judge of Israel, delivering them from oppression. 2. CalebA prominent figure from the tribe of Judah, known for his faithfulness and courage. He was one of the two spies who trusted in God's promise to give Israel the land of Canaan. 3. AcsahThe daughter of Caleb, given in marriage to Othniel as a reward for capturing the city of Debir (also known as Kiriath-sepher). 4. KenazThe father of Othniel and brother of Caleb, indicating a family of strong faith and leadership within the tribe of Judah. 5. Debir (Kiriath-sepher)A city in the territory of Judah that Othniel captured, demonstrating his valor and leadership. Teaching Points Faith and ActionOthniel's capture of Debir illustrates the importance of combining faith with action. Trust in God should lead to courageous steps in fulfilling His purposes. Godly LeadershipOthniel's role as a judge shows the impact of godly leadership. Leaders who trust in God can bring peace and deliverance to their communities. Family Legacy of FaithThe account of Caleb, Othniel, and Acsah highlights the influence of a family committed to God. Encouraging faith within families can lead to generational blessings and leadership. Rewards of ObedienceCaleb's offer of his daughter as a reward for capturing Debir underscores the biblical principle that God rewards those who diligently seek and obey Him. Marriage and PartnershipThe union of Othniel and Acsah can be seen as a partnership rooted in shared faith and purpose, reflecting the importance of spiritual unity in marriage. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Othniel's example in Judges 1:13 inspire you to take action in your own life when faced with challenges? 2. In what ways can you cultivate a legacy of faith within your family, similar to the family of Caleb and Othniel? 3. How does the account of Othniel and Acsah illustrate the importance of spiritual unity in marriage and partnerships? 4. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's reward for obedience. How did it strengthen your faith? 5. How can you apply the principles of godly leadership demonstrated by Othniel in your own community or workplace? Connections to Other Scriptures Joshua 15:16-17This passage parallels Judges 1:13, providing additional context to the account of Othniel capturing Debir and receiving Acsah as his wife. Judges 3:9-11These verses describe Othniel's role as a judge of Israel, highlighting his leadership and the peace that followed his deliverance of Israel from oppression. Numbers 13:30Caleb's faith and courage are demonstrated when he encourages the Israelites to trust in God's promise to give them the land of Canaan. People Abednego, Achsah, Adonibezek, Ahiman, Amalekites, Amorites, Anak, Anath, Arad, Arba, Asher, Asherites, Benjamin, Benjamites, Caleb, Canaanites, Dan, Danites, Debir, Edomites, Hittites, Hobab, Israelites, Jebusites, Joseph, Joshua, Kenaz, Manasseh, Naphtali, Naphtalites, Othniel, Perizzites, Rehob, Sheshai, Simeon, Simeonites, Talmai, Zebulun, ZidonPlaces Acco, Achzib, Ahlab, Aijalon, Akrabbim, Aphik, Arad, Ashkelon, Beth-anath, Bethel, Beth-shan, Beth-shemesh, Bezek, Debir, Dor, Ekron, Gaza, Gezer, Gibeah, Hebron, Helbah, Hormah, Ibleam, Jerusalem, Kiriath-arba, Kiriath-sepher, Kitron, Luz, Megiddo, Mount Heres, Nahalol, Negeb, Rehob, Sela, Shaalbim, Sidon, Taanach, ZephathTopics Achsah, Acsah, Brother, Caleb, Caleb's, Capture, Captured, Daughter, Giveth, Kenaz, Marriage, Othniel, Oth'ni-el, Wife, YoungerDictionary of Bible Themes Judges 1:1-20 7266 tribes of Israel Judges 1:11-15 4293 water Judges 1:12-13 5736 singleness Judges 1:12-15 5654 betrothal Library The Historical Books.
1. In the Pentateuch we have the establishment of the Theocracy, with the preparatory and accompanying history pertaining to it. The province of the historical books is to unfold its practiced working, and to show how, under the divine superintendence and guidance, it accomplished the end for which it was given. They contain, therefore, primarily, a history of God's dealings with the covenant people under the economy which he had imposed upon them. They look at the course of human events on the …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the BibleThe Coast of the Asphaltites, the Essenes. En-Gedi.
"On the western shore" (of the Asphaltites) "dwell the Essenes; whom persons, guilty of any crimes, fly from on every side. A nation it is that lives alone, and of all other nations in the whole world, most to be admired; they are without any woman; all lust banished, &c. Below these, was the town Engadda, the next to Jerusalem for fruitfulness, and groves of palm-trees, now another burying-place. From thence stands Massada, a castle in a rock, and this castle not far from the Asphaltites." Solinus, …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica Beth-El. Beth-Aven.
Josephus thus describes the land of Benjamin; "The Benjamites' portion of land was from the river Jordan to the sea, in length: in breadth, it was bounded by Jerusalem and Beth-el." Let these last words be marked, "The breadth of the land of Benjamin was bounded by Jerusalem and Beth-el." May we not justly conclude, from these words, that Jerusalem and Beth-el were opposite, as it were, in a right line? But if you look upon the maps, there are some that separate these by a very large tract of land, …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica Tsippor
"Tsippor is the greatest city of Galilee, and built in a very strong place." "Kitron (Judg 1:29,30) is Tsippor: and why is it called Tsippor? Because it is seated upon a mountain as Tsippor, a bird." "Sixteen miles on all sides from Tsippor was a land flowing with milk and honey." This city is noted in Josephus for its warlike affairs; but most noted in the Talmudists for the university fixed there, and for the learning, which Rabbi Judah the Holy brought hither, as we have said before. He sat in …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica A Nation's Struggle for a Home and Freedom.
ISRAEL'S VICTORIES OVER THE CANAANITES.--Josh. 2-9; Judg. 1, 4, 5. Parallel Readings. Hist. Bible II,1-4.1. Prin. of Politics X. That the leaders took the lead in Israel, That the people volunteered readily, Bless Jehovah! Zebulun was a people who exposed themselves to deadly peril, And Naphtali on the heights of the open field. Kings came, they fought; They fought, the kings of Canaan, At Taanach by the Waters of Megiddo, They took no booty of silver. Prom heaven fought the stars, From their …
Charles Foster Kent—The Making of a Nation The Place of the Old Testament in Divine Revelation
[Sidenote: Advent of the Hebrews] Modern discovery and research have demonstrated that the truth revealed through the Babylonians and with less definiteness through the people of the Nile was never entirely lost. Such a sad waste was out of accord with the obvious principles of divine economy. As the icy chill of ceremonialism seized decadent Babylonia and Egypt, there emerged from the steppes south and east of Palestine a virile, ambitious group of nomads, who not only fell heir to that which …
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament The Prophet Jonah.
It has been asserted without any sufficient reason, that Jonah is older than Hosea, Joel, Amos, and Obadiah,--that he is the oldest among the prophets whose written monuments have been preserved to us. The passage in 2 Kings xiv. 25, where it is said, that Jonah, the son of Amittai the prophet, prophesied to Jeroboam the happy success of his arms, and the restoration of the ancient boundaries of Israel, and that this prophecy was confirmed by the event, cannot decide in favour of this assertion, …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Scythopolis. Beth-Shean, the Beginning of Galilee.
The bonds of Galilee were, "on the south, Samaris and Scythopolis, unto the flood of Jordan." Scythopolis is the same with Beth-shean, of which is no seldom mention in the Holy Scriptures, Joshua 17:11; Judges 1:27; 1 Samuel 31:10. "Bethsaine (saith Josephus), called by the Greeks Scythopolis." It was distant but a little way from Jordan, seated in the entrance to a great valley: for so the same author writes, "Having passed Jordan, they came to a great plain, where lies before you the city Bethsane," …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica The Country of Jericho, and the Situation of the City.
Here we will borrow Josephus' pencil, "Jericho is seated in a plain, yet a certain barren mountain hangs over it, narrow, indeed, but long; for it runs out northward to the country of Scythopolis,--and southward, to the country of Sodom, and the utmost coast of the Asphaltites." Of this mountain mention is made, Joshua 2:22, where the two spies, sent by Joshua, and received by Rahab, are said to "conceal themselves." "Opposite against this, lies a mountain on the other side Jordan, beginning from …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
THE ISRAELITES IN THE LAND OF CANAAN: THE JUDGES--THE PHILISTINES AND THE HEBREW KINGDOM--SAUL, DAVID, SOLOMON, THE DEFECTION OF THE TEN TRIBES--THE XXIst EGYPTIAN DYNASTY--SHESHONQ OR SHISHAK DAMASCUS. The Hebrews in the desert: their families, clans, and tribes--The Amorites and the Hebrews on the left bank of the Jordan--The conquest of Canaan and the native reaction against the Hebrews--The judges, Ehud, Deborah, Jerubbaal or Gideon and the Manassite supremacy; Abimelech, Jephihdh. The Philistines, …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 6 Jews and Gentiles in "The Land"
Coming down from Syria, it would have been difficult to fix the exact spot where, in the view of the Rabbis, "the land" itself began. The boundary lines, though mentioned in four different documents, are not marked in anything like geographical order, but as ritual questions connected with them came up for theological discussion. For, to the Rabbis the precise limits of Palestine were chiefly interesting so far as they affected the religious obligations or privileges of a district. And in this respect …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life Judges
For the understanding of the early history and religion of Israel, the book of Judges, which covers the period from the death of Joshua to the beginning of the struggle with the Philistines, is of inestimable importance; and it is very fortunate that the elements contributed by the later editors are so easily separated from the ancient stories whose moral they seek to point. That moral is most elaborately stated in ii. 6-iii. 6, which is a sort of programme or preface to iii. 7-xvi. 31, which constitutes …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Judges 1:13 NIVJudges 1:13 NLTJudges 1:13 ESVJudges 1:13 NASBJudges 1:13 KJV
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