Joshua 15:13-19 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Joshua 15:13-19

The historian seems pleased with every occasion to make mention of Caleb and to do him honour, because he had honoured God in following him fully. Observe, I. The grant Joshua made him of the mountain of Hebron for his inheritance is here repeated (Josh. 15:13), and it is said to be given him. 1. According to the commandment of the Lord to Joshua. Though Caleb, in his petition, had made out a very good title to it by promise, yet, because God had ordered Joshua to divide the land by lot, he... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 15:13

And unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a part among the children of Judah ,.... That is, Joshua gave it to him. This account is inserted before the cities in the lot of the tribe of Judah were enumerated, to show what was to be excepted from them, and which had been given to Caleb previous to the lot: according to the commandment of the Lord to Joshua ; for as he had declared this to Moses, Deuteronomy 1:36 ; so it seems he also gave the same order to Joshua, who, it is not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 15:14

And Caleb drove thence the three sons of Anak ,.... Some think this was after the death of Joshua, and is here inserted by some other person divinely inspired, and thoroughly acquainted with this fact, that the gift and the possession of this place might appear in one view; but it rather seems to be done before: Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak ; the very same giants Caleb saw at Hebron, when he was sent a spy into the land, Numbers 13:22 ; for these may as well be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 15:15

And he went up from thence to the inhabitants of Debir ,.... Having conquered Hebron, and got possession of that, Caleb marched to Debir, a city not many miles from Hebron, and seems to have been in the country, and part of the land, which was given him; of which See Gill on Joshua 10:38 , and the name of Debir before was Kirjathsepher ; or "the city of books"; either a place of literature, a sort of an academy, or where was a public library; the Targum calls it Kirjatharche, or the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 15:16

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 difficulty of taking the place, through the number of the inhabitants of it, and its fortifications, which it seems had fallen again into the hands of the Canaanites, since it was taken by Joshua; nor through inactivity, diffidence, and timorousness in himself; but that others, who were officers,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 15:17

And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it ,.... The relation of Othniel to Caleb is a little intricate, and, as it is understood, occasions objections to the marriage of Caleb's daughter to him; it seems, at first sight, that he was Caleb's own brother, a younger brother, and so uncle to his daughter, and such marriages were forbidden, Leviticus 18:14 . Jarchi thinks he was the brother of Caleb by his mother's side; Kimchi, both by father and mother's side; but not to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 15:18

And it came to pass, as she came unto him ,.... To her husband, being conducted from her father's house to his, in order to consummate the marriage, just as we may suppose when she was got to her husband's house, before she lighted off the beast on which she rode: that she moved him to ask of her father a field ; or persuaded him to make such a request to him, or that he would give her leave to make it; that is, Achsah put Othniel her espoused husband upon it, to entreat her father... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Joshua 15:19

Who answered, give me a blessing ,.... By which she meant not a paternal benediction, or that he would wish and pray for a blessing on her; nor food, or a maintenance, as Jarchi, that her husband would provide for her; but rather an inheritance or possession, as the Targum; or a gift, as Abendana, a present, or something over and above what he had already given her; or an addition to her portion, as Kimchi: the word is sometimes used for a fish pool, as well as a blessing, and so glances at... read more

Adam Clarke