In making the allotments of land to the twelve tribes of Is'ra-el, one man of the tribe of Ju'dah had shown great ability. It was Ca'leb, who was the only man among the Is'ra-el-ites, except Josh'u-a, who was past sixty years of age when they crossed the Jor'dan into the land of Ca'naan. He was honored in a special manner because of his faithfulness as one of the spies sent out by Mo'ses. The giants which had caused a spirit of fear and cowardice among the Is'ra-el-ites lived in the vicinity of He'bron. In making their report to Mo'ses, Ca'leb and Josh'u-a had said, "We are well able to subdue these mighty people." For forty-five years Ca'leb had waited to make good that statement, and to occupy the city of He'bron which had vividly remained in his memory.
When the time arrived for the land of Ca'naan to be divided among the families of Is'ra-el, Ca'leb came to Josh'u-a and said, "I was forty years old when Mo'ses sent me to spy out this land, and though I am now eighty-five, I am as strong as I was in the day that Mo'ses commanded us to inspect the land of Ca'naan. I am fully capable for the most strenuous demands of warfare with the strongest peoples of these mountainous regions. The LORD promised me that I should have this part of the land, and now I ask that He'bron and the mountains occupied by roving giants be given to me."
This bold request proved the heroic spirit of Ca'leb. In his bravery, however, he counted upon the favor of God for future victories over these strong enemies, and he confessed, "If the LORD shall be with me, then shall I be able to drive out these giants," The request of Ca'leb was granted by Josh'u-a, and a special blessing was pronounced upon him.
A few miles southwest of He'bron there was a place known as De'bir, or Kir'jath-Seph'er, which was strongly fortified by one of the bravest of the tribes of giants. Ca'leb asked for a volunteer to lead in attacking and capturing this stronghold.
Among the bravest men of his army was a captain named Oth'ni-el, who was in love with Ca'leb's daughter Ach'sah. Ca'leb hoped that his daughter would choose for her husband a man who was noted for honor, bravery, and zeal in the conquest of the land, so he proposed to give his daughter in marriage to the man who led in taking De'bir.
Oth'ni-el offered to undertake this task, not only because he was willing to risk his life for the woman he loved, but because he was a man of superior courage and character. His bold attack upon the strongly defended place was successful, Ach'sah was given to him on marriage, and at her request Ca'leb bestowed a dowry more than was customary.
After the death of Josh'u-a, Oth'ni-el was chosen as the first Judge of all Is'ra-el, and he served his nation for many years with honor and distinction.
