Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joshua 15:14
And Caleb drove thence the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.
14. the three sons of Anak ] Three chiefs of the Anakims. Comp. Num 13:22.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
See the marginal references.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 14. The three sons of Anak] See Clarke on Jos 14:15.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Thence, i.e. from the said territory, from their caves and and forts in it: compare Jos 14:12. This and the following work was done either in Joshuas life-time, as may seem from Jos 11:21, or after his death, as is related Jdg 1:10; these giants having either recovered their cities or defended themselves in the mountains.
Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai; either the same who are mentioned Num 13:33, and so they were long-lived men, such as many were in those times and places; or their sons, called by their fathers names, which is very usual.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
14. drove thence the three sons ofAnakrather three chiefs of the Anakim race. This exploit isrecorded to the honor of Caleb, as the success of it was the rewardof his trust in God.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Caleb drove thence the three sons of Anak,…. Some think this was after the death of Joshua, and is here inserted by some other person divinely inspired, and thoroughly acquainted with this fact, that the gift and the possession of this place might appear in one view; but it rather seems to be done before:
Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak; the very same giants Caleb saw at Hebron, when he was sent a spy into the land,
Nu 13:22; for these may as well be supposed to have lived to this time as himself, unless it can be thought that they were the sons of those men, called by their fathers’ names; and though they were driven out when Joshua took Hebron, yet while he was engaged in making other conquests, or however before he died, they regained the possession of that city, and of the parts adjacent to it, from whence Caleb, with the help of his tribe, expelled them, conquered, and slew them, Jud 1:10.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Here we have a narrative of what plainly appears from the book of Joshua to have taken place subsequent to the death of Joshua; but lest a question might have been raised by the novelty of the procedure, in giving a fertile and well watered field as the patrimony of a woman, the writer of the book thought proper to insert a history of that which afterwards happened, in order that no ambiguity might remain in regard to the lot of the tribe of Judah. First, Caleb is said, after he had taken the city of Hebron, to have attacked Debir or Ciriath-sepher, and to have declared, that the person who should be the first to enter it, would be his son-in-law. And it appears, that when he held out this rare prize to his fellow-soldiers for taking the city, no small achievement was required. This confirms what formerly seemed to be the case, that it was a dangerous and difficult task which had been assigned him, when he obtained his conditional grant. Accordingly, with the view of urging the bravest to exert themselves, he promises his daughter in marriage as a reward to the valor of the man who should first scale the wall.
It is afterwards added that Othniel who was his nephew by a brother, gained the prize by his valor. I know not how it has crept into the common translation that he was a younger brother of Caleb; for nothing in the least degree plausible can be said in defense of the blunder. Hence some expositors perplex themselves very unnecessarily in endeavoring to explain how Othniel could have married his niece, since such marriage was forbidden by the law. It is easy to see that he was not the uncle, but the cousin of his wife.
But here another question arises, How did Caleb presume to bargain concerning his daughter until he was made acquainted with her inclinations? (146) Although it is the office of parents to settle their daughters in life, they are not permitted to exercise tyrannical power and assign them to whatever husbands they think fit without consulting them. For while all contracts ought to be voluntary, freedom ought to prevail especially in marriage that no one may pledge his faith against his will. But Caleb was probably influenced by the belief that his daughter would willingly give her consent, as she could not modestly reject such honorable terms; (147) for the husband to be given her was no common man, but one who should excel all others in warlike prowess. It is quite possible, however, that Caleb in the heat of battle inconsiderately promised what it was not in his power to perform. It seems to me, however, that according to common law, the agreement implied the daughter’s consent, and was only to take effect if it was obtained. (148) God certainly heard the prayer of Caleb, when he gave him a son-in-law exactly to his mind. For had the free choice been given him, there was none whom he would have preferred.
(146) If we are to indulge in conjectures on the subject, this question might be answered by another, How do we know that Caleb had not consulted her inclinations, and instead of resting satisfied with the vague imaginings here ascribed to him, actually obtained her consent to the proposal which he was about to make? It may not have been, as Calvin supposes, a sudden thought which struck him in the heat of battle, but a calm resolve formed before he set out on his expedition against Debir, and intended to reward the most valiant of those who had assisted him in his war against the giants. And it is even not impossible that both he and his daughter, to whom Othniel, from his near relationship, must have been well known, had no doubt from the prowess he had previously exhibited, that he would outstrip all his competitors and carry off the prize. These, of course, are mere conjectures, but they are at least as plausible as those indulged in by other expositors, who, after raising the question, appear to have given themselves much unnecessary trouble in attempting to solve it. — Ed.
(147) French, “ Pource qu’un tel partie et condition si honorable ne pouvoit estre refusee honnestement et sans impudence;” “Because such a party and so honorable a condition could not be refused honestly (honorably) and without impudence.” — Ed.
(148) In other words, Caleb promises his daughter not absolutely to the man who should take the city, but to the man who, in addition to the prowess exerted in taking it, should also have the address to gain the daughter’s consent. It is difficult to believe that the promise made was either so meant by Caleb, or so interpreted by his followers. He very probably and, as the event showed, justly judged that his influence as a parent would either win or command his daughter’s consent. — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
14. The three sons of Anak Joshua had cut off the Anakim from the mountains and destroyed their cities, (Jos 11:21,) but after his army retired northward these three old chieftains had rallied their scattered adherents and repossessed their cities.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ And Caleb drove from there the three sons of Anak, Sheshai and Ahinam and Talmai, the children of Anak.’
For these three sons of Anak compare Num 13:22. Their size was one of the main reasons for the fear of the Israelite scouts who surveyed the land of Canaan. They are mentioned here in order to demonstrate YHWH’s final victory over them by one of the two faithful scouts. Jos 1:10 says that they ‘smote them’. Hebron and its towns, having been originally weakened and ‘devoted’ by Joshua, probably being burned with fire (Jos 10:36-37), were now to be finally possessed and settled. The Canaanites, once driven out, would not be allowed to return. From now on Hebron belonged to Israel and was a thoroughly Israelite city (1Sa 30:31; 2Sa 2:1 ; 2Sa 2:3; 2Sa 2:11).
Their names suggest a possible Aramaic origin. For Sheshai compare Ezr 10:40. For Ahiman consider ‘brother of Meni’ (Isa 65:11 – Meni is ‘Destiny’, the god of fortune). The name Talmai is found among the Geshurites, an Aramean tribe (Jos 13:13; 2Sa 3:3; 2Sa 13:7), and in Nabatean inscriptions from North Arabia.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Whether this Debir is the same with that mentioned, Jos 10:38 . I know not. But if it be, perhaps while Joshua was prosecuting the war in other parts, some of the Canaanites had again entered it and fortified it. The ancient name Kirjath sepher, implied the city of learning: or of a book. Probably a school might have been here. As the Egyptians were learned in arts and sciences, so might have been the ancient kingdoms of Canaan. Act 7:22 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jos 15:14 And Caleb drove thence the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.
Ver. 14. And Caleb drove thence. ] Nos quoque militemus, Heaven is not to be had sine sanguine et sudore, without pains, patience, violence.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Caleb drove thence. Compare Jdg 1:10, It seems that some evidently returned and repossessed it.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Jos 10:36, Jos 10:37, Jos 11:21, Num 13:22, Num 13:23, Jdg 1:10, Jdg 1:20
Reciprocal: Num 13:28 – saw the Deu 1:28 – we have seen Jos 14:12 – I shall Jos 21:11 – the city of Arba Jos 23:9 – no man
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jos 15:14. Caleb drove thence That is, from the said territory, from their caves and forts in it; these giants having either recovered their cities, or defended themselves in the mountains. Caleb did not drive them out by his own power alone, but by the confederate army of the tribes of Judah and Simeon, (Jdg 1:3-9,) in which it is probable he had a principal command, and led on that party which assaulted this city. The three sons of Anak Either the same whom he had seen forty-five years before, and was not at all affrighted at them; (Num 13:22; Jdg 1:10;) and so they were long-lived men, as many were in those times and places; or their sons called by their fathers names, which was very usual.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
15:14 And Caleb {e} drove thence the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.
(e) This was done after the death of Joshua, Jud 1:10; Jud 1:20.