Othniel

13The LORD had told Joshua to give Caleb son of Jephunneh a share among Judah's people. So Caleb got the city of Arba, which is Hebron. Arba was the father of Anak.

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 father of Anak, which city is Hebron.

NoteCaleb was one of the men sent long before to look over this land. Hebron was an old town up in the hills.

14Caleb drove out the three sons of Anak from that city. They were Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.

And Caleb drove thence the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.

NoteThe sons of Anak were known for being very tall and strong. The three names here stand for whole families, not just three men. The sons of Anak were known for being very tall people.

15From there he went to fight the people of Debir. Debir used to be called Kirjathsepher.

And he went up thence to the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was Kirjathsepher.

16Caleb said, "Whoever attacks Kirjathsepher and takes it will get a reward. I will give him my daughter Achsah to be his wife."

And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.

NoteIn those days a father chose who his daughter would marry. Caleb offered this as the prize for taking the town.

17Othniel son of Kenaz took the city. Kenaz was Caleb's brother. So Caleb gave him his daughter Achsah as his wife.

And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.

NoteKenaz was Caleb's brother. That made Othniel Caleb's nephew.

18One day Achsah came to Othniel. She urged him to ask her father for a field. When she got down off her donkey, Caleb asked, "What do you want?"

And it came to pass, as she came unto him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wouldest thou?

NoteThe King James says she "lighted off her ass." An ass is a donkey. She climbed down off it to talk with her father.

19She said, "Please give me a gift. You gave me dry land in the south. Please give me springs of water too." So Caleb gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.

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.

Note"Give me a blessing" here means "please give me a gift." Her land was dry, so springs of water were worth more than the field.

11From there they went to fight the people of Debir. Debir used to be called Kirjath-sepher.

And from thence he went against the inhabitants of Debir: and the name of Debir before was Kirjathsepher:

12Caleb said, "Whoever attacks Kirjath-sepher and captures it will get a reward. I will give him my daughter Achsah to be his wife."

And Caleb said, He that smiteth Kirjathsepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife.

NoteLong ago fathers chose who their daughters would marry. Offering a daughter in marriage was a big prize.

13Othniel captured the city. He was the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother. So Caleb gave him Achsah to be his wife.

And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.

14When Achsah came to Othniel, she urged him to ask her father for a field. Then she got down off her donkey. Caleb asked her, "What do you want?"

And it came to pass, when she came to him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she lighted from off her ass; and Caleb said unto her, What wilt thou?

15She said, "Please give me a gift. You gave me dry land in the south. Give me springs of water too." So Caleb gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.

And she said unto him, Give me a blessing: for thou hast given me a south land; give me also springs of water. And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the nether springs.

NoteLand with no water is hard to farm. A spring is a place where water comes up from the ground. Springs made the dry land worth having.

7The people of Israel did what was evil to the LORD. They forgot the LORD their God. They served false gods called the Baals and the Asherahs.

And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and forgat the LORD their God, and served Baalim and the groves.

NoteBaal was a god that people nearby prayed to. Asherahs were tall wooden poles people set up to worship. They were not the real God.

8So the LORD was very angry with Israel. He handed them over to Cushan-rishathaim, the king of Mesopotamia. Israel had to serve that king for eight years.

Therefore the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia: and the children of Israel served Chushanrishathaim eight years.

NoteMesopotamia was a big land far to the north and east. The old words say God "sold" Israel to this king. That means God let the king win over them.

9Then the people of Israel cried out to the LORD for help. The LORD sent a man to save them. He was Othniel, the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.

And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother.

NoteCaleb was a brave leader in Israel long before this. Othniel came from his family.

10The Spirit of the LORD came on Othniel. He became Israel's judge, a leader who ruled them and saved them. He went out to war. The LORD handed King Cushan-rishathaim over to him, and Othniel won.

And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim.

NoteA judge here is not a judge in a courtroom. It means a leader who ruled the people and fought for them. "The Spirit of the LORD" means God's own power. It came on Othniel to make him strong and brave.

11Then the land was at peace for forty years. After that, Othniel the son of Kenaz died.

And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.

Note"The land had rest" means nobody made war for a long time. Families could farm and live safely.