Judges 1:13
ESV
And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb 's younger brother, captured it. And he gave him Achsah his daughter for a wife.
NIV
Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, took it; so Caleb gave his daughter Aksah to him in marriage.
NASB
Now Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, captured it; so he gave him his daughter Achsah as a wife.
CSB
So Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s youngest brother, captured it, and Caleb gave his daughter Achsah to him as his wife.
NLT
Othniel, the son of Caleb’s younger brother, Kenaz, was the one who conquered it, so Acsah became Othniel’s wife.
KJV
And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.
NKJV
And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, took it; so he gave him his daughter Achsah as wife.
What does Judges 1:13 mean?
Caleb has issued an opportunity. He will give his daughter Achsah in marriage to whomever succeeds in attacking and conquering the Canaanite city of Kiriath-sepher, also known as Debir. The city is apparently part of Caleb's inheritance in the Promised Land. This section (Judges 1:12–15) repeats the information from Joshua 15:15–19.A man named Othniel succeeds in capturing the city. We're told that Othniel is the son of Caleb's younger brother, meaning that Caleb is Othniel's uncle and Achsah is his cousin. Marriage among family members in this way was not unusual during this era—or most eras in history.
Caleb's absolute commitment to the Lord and boldness on Yahweh's behalf is remarkable. It's even more noteworthy because Caleb was likely a proselyte, meaning he converted to Judaism. Caleb is introduced in Joshua as the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite (Joshua 14:6). Kenaz was an Edomite, a descendant of Jacob's brother Esau. That means that these bold, committed, faithful Israelites—Caleb, his daughter, and his new son-in-law—were all three converts to faith in Yahweh.
