daughter of Caleb (JOS 15:16)
Lineage: Jephunneh › Caleb › Achsah
Loading book references…
Conditional birth bounds under generation assumptions; not attested parental ages, biological limits or a lifespan.
Below are relatives with a selected birth year, the generations separating them, and the interval allowed by each anchor. Each relative’s page shows available dates and sources. The overall estimate uses the intersection of the allowed intervals.
| Relative / anchor year | Generations | Conditional interval |
|---|---|---|
| Caleb · 1530 BC Ancestor |
1 20–45 years per generation |
c. 1510 BC – 1485 BC |
Achsah was the daughter of Caleb, given in marriage to Othniel as a reward for capturing Kiriath-sepher, and she requested springs of water from her father as a blessing.
Achsah was the daughter of Caleb, one of the Israelite leaders during the conquest of Canaan. When Caleb was given the city of Hebron as his inheritance, he promised to give his daughter Achsah in marriage to whoever would capture the nearby city of Kiriath-sepher (Jos 15:16; Jdg 1:12).
Othniel, Caleb's nephew and the son of Kenaz, successfully captured Kiriath-sepher, and so Achsah was given to him in marriage (Jos 15:17; Jdg 1:13). As Achsah was going to Othniel, she urged him to ask her father for a field (Jdg 1:14).
Achsah then approached her father Caleb and requested that he give her springs of water in addition to the land he had already given her, as the land was in the Negev, a dry region (Jos 15:18-19; Jdg 1:14-15). Caleb granted her request and gave her the upper and lower springs (Jos 15:19; Jdg 1:15).
Achsah's story highlights the importance of water resources in the arid regions of Canaan and demonstrates the boldness and resourcefulness of a woman in securing a valuable blessing for herself and her husband. Her request for springs of water also shows the significance of a father's blessing and provision for his daughter upon her marriage.
Anklet, Caleb’s only daughter (1 Chr. 2:49). She was offered in marriage to the man who would lead an attack on the city of Debir, or Kirjath-sepher. This was done by Othniel (q.v.), who accordingly obtained her as his wife (Josh. 15:16-19; Judg. 1:9-15).
Sources: BibleData (CC BY 4.0, Achsah_1) · STEPBible TIPNR (CC BY 4.0, Achsah@Jos.15.16-Jdg) · Theographic Bible Metadata (CC BY-SA 4.0, achsah_68)