Women in the Bible – Achsah – Daughter of Caleb

Women in the Bible – Achsah – Daughter of Caleb

Joshua 15:16-19 (ESV) And Caleb said, “Whoever strikes Kiriath-sepher and captures it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter as wife.” And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, captured it. And he gave him Achsah his daughter as wife. When she came to him, she urged him to ask her father for a field. And she got off her donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Give me a blessing. Since you have given me the land of the Negeb, give me also springs of water.” And he gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.

Judges 1:12-15 (ESV) And Caleb said, “He who attacks Kiriath-sepher and captures it, I will give him Achsah my daughter for a wife.” And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, captured it. And he gave him Achsah his daughter for a wife. When she came to him, she urged him to ask her father for a field. And she dismounted from her donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Give me a blessing. Since you have set me in the land of the Negeb, give me also springs of water.” And Caleb gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.

1 Chronicles 2:42-50 (ESV) The sons of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel: Mareshah his firstborn, who fathered Ziph. The son of Mareshah: Hebron. The sons of Hebron: Korah, Tappuah, Rekem and Shema. Shema fathered Raham, the father of Jorkeam; and Rekem fathered Shammai. The son of Shammai: Maon; and Maon fathered Beth-zur. Ephah also, Caleb’s concubine, bore Haran, Moza, and Gazez; and Haran fathered Gazez. The sons of Jahdai: Regem, Jotham, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah, and Shaaph. Maacah, Caleb’s concubine, bore Sheber and Tirhanah. She also bore Shaaph the father of Madmannah, Sheva the father of Machbenah and the father of Gibea; and the daughter of Caleb was Achsah. These were the descendants of Caleb.

When Israel came to the banks of the Jordan River, on the verge of entering the land that God had promised when He led them out of Egyptian captivity, Moses sent twelve young men to spy out the land. I’m sure you know the story. If not, look it up. Of the twelve only two came back with a positive report: Joshua and Caleb. After the rest refused to cross over because of the giants in the land, God declared that the entire generation would remain in the wilderness and die, and a new generation would enter the Promised Land.

Caleb would prosper in the new land, Canaan, and his family also prospered. 1 Chronicles 2 lists Caleb’s descendants. One of his daughters is the next Women in the Bibile: Achsah. Her name comes from the Hebrew word ʿaksâ, which means “anklet”. The word can mean a shackle, but it can also mean “a tinkling charm.” Somehow I believe this is more the case with Achsah.

Caleb considered his daughter a prize; so much so that he offered her hand in marriage to anyone who would conquer Kiriath-sepher, a city in Palestine. Othniel did just that. Caleb was about to follow through with his promise, but before the transaction could be finalized his daughter, Achsah, went to her husband-to-be to make sure she would live a good life. She asked “daddy” for a field, and a spring to go with it. He gave her the field, and both the upper and lower spring.

I can totally identify with this scenario. If my daughter asked me for anything I would give it to her. I believe Achsah was a shrewd business woman. Her request was not just a selfish landgrab. She was being sent, by way of Othniel winning her hand, to an arid land. Water would be a major problem for them. Her request was one of need which would give her and her new husband a much better chance at living well and raising their family. We do not know how things turned out for Achsah, but knowing she was a chip off the old block of Caleb, she probably ended well.