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Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

Joshua 15:16

‘ And Caleb said, “He who smites Kiriath-sepher, and takes it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife”.'

This was a kind of test of suitability. Chief's daughters were given to mighty champions to ensure continual strong leadership. Compare Saul's offer in 1 Samuel 17:25. It is understandable why Saul did not fulfil his promise. When he made it he was expecting a champion not an inexperienced young man. He was not to know what David would become.

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See also Joshua 15:16 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Joshua 15:16. _WILL I GIVE ACHSAH MY DAUGHTER_] In ancient times fathers assumed an absolute right over their children, especially in disposing of them in marriage; and it was customary for a _...

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    3. THE PORTION OF JUDAH CHAPTER 15 _ 1. The south-border of Judah's portion (Joshua 15:1)_ 2. The eastern and northern border (Joshua 15:5) 3. The western border (Joshua 15:12) 4. Caleb's conques...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    JOSHUA 15:1 reads rather confusedly. The statement is made that the following is the inheritance of Israel a late writer, wishing to be more exact, says the 9½ tribes, and then proceeds to point out h...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _to him will I give Achsah my daughter_ So Saul promised to the victor over Goliath to "give him his daughter" (1 Samuel 17:25), and undertook if David was valiant for him to give him to wife his elde...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    The Request of Achsah, Daughter of Caleb 13. _And unto Caleb_ This section, from Joshua 15:13-19, is repeated with slight alterations almost verbatim in Judges 1:10-20. The two sections are probably d...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    _VER._ 16, 17. _AND CALEB SAID,_ &C.— To encourage his troops to take _Debir,_ Caleb, at the head of the army, declared publicly, that he would give his daughter in marriage to whoever undertook and s...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    _Caleb's Inheritance Joshua 15:13-19_ 13 And unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a part among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of the Lord to Joshua, even the city of Arba the f...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _AND CALEB SAID, HE THAT SMITETH KIRJATH-SEPHER, AND TAKETH IT, TO HIM WILL I GIVE ACHSAH MY DAUGHTER TO WIFE._ He that smiteth Kirjath-sepher - or Kirjath-sannah (Joshua 15:9), afterward Debir. [Kir...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    THE ASSIGNMENT OF THE TERRITORY It has been noticed that there are many incidental features in this narrative which point to a contemporary document. Thus in the lot of Judah we have a full descriptio...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    COME IN, AND RECEIVE GOD’S PROMISES! JOSHUA _BRIAN ROWLANDS_ Maps to help you to study this book are on the Internet at www.easyenglish.info. CHAPTER 15 V1 Joshua gave land to the *tribe of Ju...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    (13-19) AND UNTO CALEB... This paragraph occurs also in Judges 1:10, with some slight variations. Which is its original place? In Judges it is connected with the continuation of the conquest of Canaan...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יֹּ֣אמֶר כָּלֵ֔ב אֲשֶׁר ־יַכֶּ֥ה אֶת ־קִרְ

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    CHAPTER XXIV. THE INHERITANCE OF JUDAH. Joshua 15:1. JUDAH was the imperial tribe, and it was fitting that he should be planted in a conspicuous territory. Even if the republic had not been destined...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    63, REWARDS OF COURAGE Joshua 15:13 Arba was the greatest among the Anakim or giants, Joshua 14:15. His three sons were equally formidable, Joshua 15:14. But Caleb subdued them through an omnipotent...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    In the settlement of the nine and a half tribes, Judah was the first dealt with as being the imperial and kingly tribe. The position allocated to it was the fighting front. It was touched by enemies o...

  • Gary Hampton Commentaries

    Before the distribution of the land had gone too far, it was appropriate for Caleb to come to Joshua and remind him of the promise God had made (Numbers 14:21-24; Deuteronomy 1:35-36). Caleb says he w...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Wife. Parents had full authority to do this. Saul promised his daughter to the person who should overcome Goliah[Goliath]. Something was required by way of dowry for the lady. (Grotius) (1 Kings xvii...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Every Reader must be struck with the singularity of Caleb's gift to his daughter. And few enlightened Readers, but have been led to conceive that the Holy Ghost hath veiled spiritual blessings under t...

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    In the wars of Jehovah it was not always a question of hostile power. Indeed this is not the most serious evil which the people of God have to encounter in this world. The very same principle which wa...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 12 THROUGH 24. Chapter 12 is only a summary of their conquests. The Holy Ghost not only gives us the victory over our enemies, but makes us understand and kno...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND CALEB SAID, HE THAT SMITETH KIRJATHSEPHER, AND TAKETH IT,.... 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 di...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife. Ver. 16. _To him will I give Achsah my daughter._] Yet with her consent, who as she was no...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _Caleb said_ Made proclamation throughout the army which he led against Debir. _Achsah my daughter to wife_ Which is to be understood with some conditions, as, if he were one who could marry her accor...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 The borders of the lot of Iudah. 13 Calebs portion and conquest. 16 Othniel for his valour, hath Achsah Calebs daughter to wife. 18 Shee obtaineth a blessing of her father. 21 The Cities of Iuda...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah, my daughter, to wife, this being the reward or prize held out before the young men to spur them on to their best...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Caleb's Possession....

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    THE BORDERS OF JUDAH (vs.1-12) Judah occupied the largest territory of the tribes, though later we read that Simeon's possession was within Judah's territory (ch.19:1). The boundary on the south of J...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    13-19 Achsah obtained some land by Caleb's free grant. He gave her a south land. Land indeed, but a south land, dry and apt to be parched. She obtained more, on her request, and he gave the upper and...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    Which is to be understood with some conditions, as, if he were one who could marry her by God's law; for every promise contrary to that is void; and if she were willing; for though parents had a great...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Joshua 15:16 Caleb H3612 said H559 (H8799) attacks H5221 (H8686) Sepher H7158 takes H3920 (H8804) give...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Land divisions; the portion of Judah. CHARACTERS: God, Joshua, Caleb, Othniel, Achsah. CONCLUSION: It is no breach of God's law moderately to desire those comforts and conveniences of life...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Joshua 15:1. _This then was the lot of Judah._ After the arduous toils of war, Joshua entered on an administration of affairs little less difficult than the conquest itself. The country was now rather...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _To him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife._ OTHNIEL’S CONQUEST OF DEBIR I. The spirit which influenced caleb in the disposal of achsah. He sought to unite her to a man-- (1) Honourable for his...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    JOSHUA—NOTE ON JOSHUA 15:1 As the distribution of western lands begins, the important tribe of JUDAH receives its land first. The tribal boundaries are described (vv. Joshua 1

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    JOSHUA—NOTE ON JOSHUA 15:13 HE GAVE TO CALEB... CALEB DROVE OUT. See note on 14:6–15. OTHNIEL ...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    _THE INHERITANCE OF JUDAH_ CRITICAL NOTES.— JOSHUA 15:1. This verse states the position of the lot of Judah in relation to the whole of Canaan; it was in the extreme south of the land. In Joshua 15:...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION THE LOT OF JUDAH. JOSHUA 15:1 THE LOT OF THE TRIBE OF THE CHILDREN OF JUDAH. The first twelve verses of this chapter define the boundaries of Judah. With it compare Numbers 34:3, wh

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    So in chapter fifteen he describes the portion that was given from Judah, and he tells the borders of the land that was given to Judah, going over at one point, clear to the Mediterranean, the area of...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    Judges 1:12; Judges 1:13; Judges 1:6...

  • Wells of Living Water Commentary

    DIVIDING THE INHERITANCES Joshua 14:6; _Joshua 15:13_ INTRODUCTORY WORDS We have come to a very interesting place in the early history of Israel even to the dividing of the land, and to the allotti...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    To wife — Which is to be understood with some conditions, as, if he were one who could marry her by God's law; and if she were willing; for though parents had a great power over their children, they c...

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