Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joshua 15:17
And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.
17. Othniel the son of Kenaz ] The younger brother of Caleb (comp. Jdg 1:13; Jdg 3:9; 1Ch 4:13). But it is not certain from these passages whether Kenaz was his father, or, as some think, the more remote ancestor and head of the tribe, whose descendants were called “sons of Kenaz” (Num 32:12). If Jephunneh was the father of Caleb, he was probably the father of Othniel also. The next mention of him is in Jdg 3:9, where we find him the first Judge of Israel after the death of Joshua (for his genealogy see 1Ch 4:13-14), delivering the Israelites from the tyranny of the Mesopotamian king, Chushanrishathaim.
the brother of Caleb ] There is a doubt here whether Othniel was “filius Kenasi, frat er Calebi,” or “filius Kenasi frat ris Calebi.” For the second explanation comp. 2Sa 13:3 ; 2Sa 13:32, “Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother; for the first, 1Sa 26:6, “Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, and brother to Joab;” this is adopted by the Maronites, the LXX., and the Vulgate.
and he gave him Achsah ] She had probably remained with her father at Hebron.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Othniel was probably Calebs younger brother; the expression son of Kenaz being only an equivalent for the Kenezite Jos 14:6.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Object. This marriage was unlawful.
Answ. No; for it was not Othniel, but Kenaz, who was Calebs brother; and besides, the word brother is commonly used for any kinsman; and that Caleb was not properly Othniels brother sufficiently appears, because Caleb is constantly called the son of Jephunneh; and Othniel, the son of Kenaz here, and 1Ch 4:13.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it,…. The relation of Othniel to Caleb is a little intricate, and, as it is understood, occasions objections to the marriage of Caleb’s daughter to him; it seems, at first sight, that he was Caleb’s own brother, a younger brother, and so uncle to his daughter, and such marriages were forbidden, Le 18:14. Jarchi thinks he was the brother of Caleb by his mother’s side; Kimchi, both by father and mother’s side; but not to observe, that besides the word “brother” sometimes signifies only a kinsman, or near relation, and not precisely a brother; it is not Othniel that is called the brother of Caleb, but Kenaz, who was the father of Othniel; so that Caleb was Othniel’s uncle, and Achsah and Othniel were brothers’ children, or first cousins, between whom marriage was allowed of:
and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife; according to the tenor of his proclamation, and the promise he made.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
17. Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb The Septuagint, by mistake, here makes Othniel to be the brother of Caleb, thus making him marry his own brother’s daughter, his niece; a marriage if not unlawful, yet questionable. But the Septuagint corrects itself at Jdg 1:13, where all versions agree that Kenaz was Caleb’s brother, and Othniel Kenaz’s son. Othniel therefore married his own cousin.
Gave him Achsah In being offered as a prize to the warriors it is probable that, in accordance with the spirit of the times, Achsah found a gratification to her feminine pride. The onset of battle was to be made all the more bravely for her beauty, rank, and dower. Of course, all the probabilities of winning lay within the circle of a few well-known heroes, and she would have the assurance of marrying the bravest man of Caleb’s princedom. And her best ambition was gratified, since Providence and Othniel’s bravery gave her the man of her probable choice certainly the man who raised her from the rank of daughter of the sheikh to that of wife of the ruler of all the united tribes. Jdg 3:9.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ And Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother, took it, and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.’
It was probably Kenaz who was Caleb’s younger brother. The son and daughter were thus cousins. Othniel was probably Caleb’s hope in the first place. ‘Son of Kenaz’ might simply indicate that he too was a Kenizzite, but it is unlikely that Caleb would give his daughter to his younger brother in this way (Lev 18:9), and there is no reason why a Kenizzite should not be called Kenaz.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Jos 15:17 And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter to wife.
Ver. 17. The son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb. ] So that Othniel and Achsah were brothers’ children. Hence some infer the lawfulness of such marriages now.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Othniel: Jdg 1:13, Jdg 3:9, Jdg 3:11
Kenaz: Jos 14:6, Num 32:12
Achsah: 1Ch 2:49
Reciprocal: Jdg 1:12 – And Caleb 2Sa 5:8 – Whosoever 1Ch 4:13 – Kenaz 1Ch 11:6 – Whosoever