“Kalev said, “To whoever overpowers Kiryat-Sefer and captures it I will give my daughter Akhsah as his wife.” Otni’el the son of K’naz, Kalev’s brother, captured it; so he gave him ‘Akhsah his daughter as his wife. After becoming his wife, she persuaded him to ask her father to give them a field; when she got off her donkey, Kalev asked her, “What do you want?” She said to him: “Give me a blessing: since you gave me land in the Negev, also give me sources of water.” So Kalev gave her the Upper Springs and the Lower Springs.”-Joshua 15:16-19
Let’s talk about the story of Caleb offering up his daughter Akhsah to any man who would be able to conquer the city of Debir.
Well, it turns out, a man by the name of Othniel managed to get the job done and so he received Caleb’s daughter’s hand in marriage.
Upon closer examination, what’s interesting to discover is that Othniel was actually Caleb’s younger brother!
That’s right.
We have a niece marrying her uncle!
You may be thinking…WHAT?!
This may be a bit shocking to some people, but understand this occurred frequently during the Biblical era and it was legal.
Another thing to keep in mind is that while we tend to view Hebrew history in terms of the 12 tribes of Israel, it was the clans inside each tribe where the real authority and power resided.
We can see this reality playing out right before our eyes here in Joshua Chapter 15.
Immediately after the marriage, we’re told that Achsah approached her father Caleb and asked him for a certain field.
And actually, the Hebrew and some Septuagint manuscripts say it was Othniel who urged Akhsah to ask her father for more land.
It seems like the land Caleb had given to Achsah for her dowry was some lousy territory in the Negev that wasn’t very fertile.
Therefore, Achsah went back to her father and asked they be given some land with water on it.
It’s for this reason that Achsah has been called “the woman who asked” and got what she wanted.
The takeaway here is simple.
In life, we’re given what we ask for…whether from men or from God.
So adopt an abundant mindset and ask for what you want and expect to receive!
CONNECTING THIS TEACHING TO THE NEW TESTAMENT
“Ask and it will be given to you;
seek and you will find;
knock and the door
will be opened to you.”
-Matthew 7:7
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