Judges – Othniel, Part 2

Othniel

Then Caleb said, “Whoever attacks Kirjath Sepher and takes it, to him I will give my daughter Achsah as wife.” And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, took it; so he gave him his daughter Achsah as wife. Now it happened, when she came to him, that she urged him to ask her father for a field. And she dismounted from her donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you wish?” So she said to him, “Give me a blessing; since you have given me land in the South, give me also springs of water.” — Judges 1:12-15

Men, before moving on, there are 2 points to make from the translations of names in these verses. 1st, the city that Othniel was asked to conquer was called Debir, or “giants” because of its inhabitants, and it was also called Kirjath-Sepher, meaning “city of books”. Kirjath-Sepher was a land of corrupted humanity. Giants were the product of fallen angels who had physical relations with human women in Genesis. Some scholars speculate that this corruption was part of God’s motivation for the flood of Noah. These Canaanites were so corrupted that the Lord wanted them eradicated.

When we think of an evil enemy, we often think that they would be dumb, barbaric, clumsy, and ugly. Take caution. Here, the enemy lives in the “city of books.” Books compel us to consider that they were learned people. They were likely sophisticated in academics, religious acts, and record keeping. The Canaanites were corrupted by the same enemy we face today, and that enemy is again at work in academics, false religion centers of “cultural agenda”, and they store information. The second point is in Achsah, the daughter of Caleb. Her name is translated “ornament” and is given in marriage to Othniel for conquering the city of Kirjath-Sepher.

We too have a hero in Jesus, who conquered corruption. The Father, our Lord God has given Jesus a bride, the church (believers). As Achsah was an ornament to Othniel, are you, a believing member of the total church, an ornament to Jesus and His mission on earth? As an ornament, what do we call attention to? Ornaments add luster to an arrangement, and distinguish seasons and occasions apart. Are we set apart from the common corruption that is of this world?

Move forward men. Do not underestimate our enemy. The enemy is conscious, intelligent, patient, cunning, and stores information for strategizing attacks on the people of God. Embody sanctification from the evil of flesh and this world through faith in Jesus, our Champion over sin.

Vance Durrance

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Judges – Othniel, Part 1

OthnielThen Caleb said, “Whoever attacks Kirjath-Sepher and takes it, to him I will give my daughter Achsah as wife.” And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, took it; so he gave him his daughter Achsah as wife. Now it happened, when she came to him, that she urged him to ask her father for a field. And she dismounted from her donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you wish?” So she said to him, “Give me a blessing; since you have given me land in the South, give me also springs of water.” — Judges 1:12-15

Men, the story found here is a duplicate passage lifted from Joshua 15. The occurrence here took place during the time of Joshua, but for the sake of chronology and wholeness the 1st judge is introduced here among the account of the judges of Israel. Caleb has come and offers his daughter, Achsah, to whomever attacks and conquers the city Kirjath-Sepher. Othniel, the son of Kenaz, who was Caleb’s younger brother, conquered the city. Kirjath-Sepher translates “city of books”, and was likely a religious and academic center for the Canaanite people. Kirjath-Sepher is also another name for Debir which translates “giants.” It’s important that we keep the corrupted nature of the Canaanites in view. Many have taken an anti-semitic view of the Hebrew people by neglecting that fact.

Achsah, the daughter of Caleb, translates to “ornament.” After the city is conquered, Achsah urged Othniel to ask for a field. She then approaches Caleb her father and asks for a blessing for herself. She asks for rights to the water springs of the area of the field. Taking care not to over spiritualize, but acknowledging the picture given here: a son conquers corruption, the bride approaches her groom to ask for a field. In further cooperation she asks for a blessing of water for herself from her father. When a marriage is mutually cooperative, with each other and with our Father God, a complete and functional blessing is available, with provision established.

Move forward men, with the boldness of Othniel, Israel’s first judge. Go and conquer darkness when the opportunity comes. The Lord honored Othniel’s leadership with victory. The Lord blessed him with a wife, provision, authority and territory. Othniel translates, “God is my strength”, or “God’s lion.” Is He yours? Are you a lion of God? Will you and I be first in standing up to fight for the promises of God to be secured in our lives? Is your marriage an asset to each other? To God?

Vance Durrance

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