Today we'll conclude Chapter 15 which deals with the portion of the promised land allotted to the tribe of Judah. Our passage begins with a personal story about Joshua's friend Caleb.
You'll recall from Chapter 15 that Caleb, of the tribe of Judah, was the first to receive his portion of the promised land. The area belonging to him contained some of the descendants of Anak (the Anakites were giants) and although he was eighty-five years old when he was allotted his portion, he was still a mighty warrior who drove three of these men of great stature from the land. "In accordance with the Lord's command to him, Joshua gave to Caleb son of Jephunneh a portion in Judah---Kiriah Arba, that is, Hebron. (Arba was the forefather of Anak.) From Hebron Caleb drove out three Anakites---Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai, the sons of Anak. From there he marched against the people living in Debir (formerly called Kiriath Sepher)." (Joshua 15:13-15)
Caleb encourages others to do great deeds. He offers an advantageous alliance to the man who is able to capture Kiriath Sepher. "And Caleb said, 'I will give my daughter Aksah in marriage to the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher.' Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's brother, took it; so Caleb gave his daughter Aksah to him in marriage." (Joshua 15:16-17) Othniel and Aksah were first cousins but the Bible does not prohibit marriage between first cousins in the Old Testament rules regarding marriage. Some scholars assume Othniel was already in love with Aksah and that this is why he boldly stepped up to take the city. Whether or not this was the case, to be the son-in-law of Caleb would have been considered a great honor, and it could be that more men than Othniel went up against Kiriath Sepher but that Othniel is the one who prevailed.
In Old Testament times (and in some places in our modern world today) a father had all authority over the selection of spouses for his children. But Caleb's daughter Aksah is no meek lady; like Caleb himself, she is bold. Aksah asks for more than the dowry her father bestowed on her. She wants him to grant her a special area within the tribe of Judah, an area containing springs of good water. "One day when she came to Othniel, she urged him to ask her father for a field." (Joshua 15:18a) Some of the commentaries I consulted state that this was probably on the day she was married to Othniel and was about to go home with him, so this verse could be rendered, "On the day she came to Othniel, she urged him to ask her father for a field." But it's possible she came back to visit her father to make her request after she was already married. Also in the commentaries it was noted that in the original text it is not entirely plain who mentioned the land to whom, so it may actually be saying that Othniel urged Aksah to ask her father for the field. Either way, Aksah has the boldness to make this request of her father because she is secure in the knowledge that her father loves her and will hear her request and will grant it. If we are the children of God, the Bible urges us to come boldly to Him for help, secure in the knowledge that our Father loves us: "Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)
Caleb grants his daughter's request. "When she got off her donkey, Caleb asked, 'What can I do for you?' She replied, 'Do me a special favor. Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me also springs of water.' So Caleb gave her the upper and lower springs." (Joshua 15:18b-19) As soon as his daughter alights from her donkey, Caleb is ready to hear her request and to act upon it. When we go to our heavenly Father in prayer, I think we might pray with more confidence if we pictured Him saying, "Hello, My child. What can I do for you?"
The remainder of our chapter is a list of the cities within the territory allotted to the tribe of Judah. "This is the inheritance of the tribe of Judah, according to its clans: The southernmost towns of the tribe of Judah in the Negev toward the boundary of Edom were: Kabzeel, Eder, Jagur, Kinah, Dimonah, Adadah, Kedesh, Hazor, Ithnan, Telem, Bealoth, Hazor Hadattah, Kerioth Hezron (that is, Hazor), Amam, Shema, Moladah, Hazar Gaddah, Heshmon, Beth Pelet, Hazar Shual, Beersheba, Biziothiah, Baalah, Iyim, Ezem, Eltolad, Kesil, Hormah, Ziklag, Madmannah, Sansannah, Lebaoth, Shilhim, Ain and Rimmon---a total of twenty-nine towns and their villages." (Joshua 15:20-32)
"In the western foothills: Eshtaol, Zorah, Ashnah, Zanoah, En Gannim, Tappuah, Enam, Jarmuth, Adullam, Sokoh, Azekah, Shaaraim, Adithaim and Gederah (or Gederothaim)---fourteen towns and their villages. Zenan, Hadashah, Migdal Gad, Dilean, Mizpah, Joktheel, Lachish, Bozkath, Eglon, Kabbon, Lahmas, Kitlish, Gederoth, Beth Dagon, Naamah and Makkedah---sixteen towns and their villages. Ekron, with its surrounding settlements and villages; west of Ekron, all that were in the vicinity of Ashdod, together with their villages; Ashdod, its surrounding settlements and villages; and Gaza, its settlements and villages, as far as the Wadi of Egypt and the coastline of the Mediterranean Sea." (Joshua 15:33-47)
"In the hill country: Shamir, Jattir, Sokoh, Dannah, Kiriath Sannah (that is, Debir), Anab, Eshtemoh, Anim, Goshen, Holon and Giloh---eleven towns and their villages. Arab, Dumah, Eshan, Janim, Beth Tappuah, Aphekah, Humtah, Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron), and Zior---nine towns and their villages. Maon, Carmel, Ziph, Juttah, Jezreel, Jokdeam, Zanoah, Kain, Gibeah and Timnah---ten towns and their villages. Halhul, Beth Zur, Gedor, Maarath, Beth Anoth and Eltekon---six towns and their villages. Kiriath Baal (that is, Kiriath Jearim) and Rabbah---two towns and their villages." (Joshua 15:48-60)
"In the wilderness: Beth Arabah, Middin, Sekakah, Nibshan, the City of Salt and En Gedi---six townsa and their villages." (Joshua 15:61-62)
"Judah could not dislodge the Jebusites, who were living in Jerusalem; to this day the Jebusites live there with the people of Judah." (Joshua 15:63) The Jebusites were still in Jerusalem at the time the book of Joshua was written but they were driven out during the time of King David.
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