Joshua 15:19

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.

Give me a blessing, х bªraakaah (H1293)] - a gift, a favour (Genesis 33:11; 1 Samuel 25:27; 1 Samuel 25:30; 2 Kings 5:15).

For thou hast given me a south land, х 'erets (H776) ha-Negeb (H5045)] - the south land. [Septuagint, eis teen Nageb dedookas me, thou hast given (placed) me in the Negeb.]

Give me also springs of water, х gulot (H1543), bubbling fountains, from gal (H1530), a fountain (Song of Solomon 2:12). The word indicting the welling up of the waters is used only in this and the parallel passage of Judges 1:14. The Septuagint translates thus, dos moi teen botthanis kai edooken autee teen Gonaithlan teen anoo kai teen Gonaithlan teen katoo.] These springs are supposed to be described by Dr. Robinson in his account of Kurmul (the ancient Carmel - i:e., fruitful land), of Judah, which lies near the point where the fertile plain of Hebron slopes down eastwardly to the less favoured Negeb. 'The ruins of the town lie around the head and along the two sides of a valley of some width and depth, the head of which forms a semi-circular amphitheater, shut in by rocks. The bottom of the amphitheater is a beautiful grass plat, with an artificial reservoir in the middle, measuring 117 feet long by 74 feet broad.

The spring from which it is supplied is in the rocks on the northwest, where a chamber has been excavated. The water is brought out by an underground channel, first to small basin near the rocks, and then five or six rods further to the reservoir. It is only necessary to add the important facts, that there is no living water within the territory, and that, when the cisterns become exhausted late in summer, the Arab shepherds have no resource but to remove their flocks and other animals to the vicinity of Kurmul, in order to complete the chain of evidence which goes to prove that this rich plain is the very "field" desired by Achsah, and that the fountain of Kurmul with its "excavated chamber" and "basin" high up among the rocks, and its capacions "reservoir" in the grassy "amphitheater" below, is identical with those "upper and nether springs" which so richly supplemented the dowry of Othniel's bride' ('Biblical Researches,' 2:, p. 197, quoted 'Negeb,' p. 17). The request, being reasonable, was granted; and the story, while it shows the invaluable privilege of an abundant water-supply in the East, conveys this important lesson in religion, that if earthly parents are ready to bestow on their children that which is good, much more will our heavenly Father give every necessary blessing to them who ask Him.