ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Tusite ‘Okatopa 5, 2021 

Give me a blessing

‘Omi haku tāpuaki

Siosiua 15 (Joshua 15)

(v. 18-19) When she came to him, she urged him to ask her father for a field. And she got off her donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Give me a blessing. Since you have given me the land of the Negeb, give me also springs of water.” And he gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.

(v. 18-19) Pea ‘i he faifai pea ha‘u ‘a e fefine kiate ia, na‘a ne o‘i ia ke kole mei he‘ene tamai ha vao; Ko ia na‘e puna hifo ‘a e fefine mei he‘ene ‘asi. Pea lea kiate ia ‘e Kēlepi, Ko e hā ‘au? Pea tali ‘e ia, ‘Omi haku tāpuaki; he kuo ke tuku au ‘i he fonua Tonga, ke ke foaki foki ha matavai. Pea ne ‘ange kiate ia ‘a e ngaahi matavai ‘olunga mo lalo.

 

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

In the settlement of the nine and a half tribes, Judah was the first dealt with as being the imperial and kingly tribe. The position allocated to it was the fighting front. It was touched by enemies on three sides; on the east, Moab; on the west, the Philistines; on the south, Edom. Away to the southwest were the Amalekites.

The tribe whose standard was that of the kingly line, and from which that line presently was to spring, was to have its fiber toughened by the sternest discipline--constant watchfulness against the foe and long-continued fighting.

Necessarily, the proximity of these enemies had its peril in another and more insidious source. And, alas, it was in this source that Judah eventually found the elements of her breakup. The fighting line remained loyal longer than the rest, but subsequently even Judah became contaminated with the abominations of the heathen.

God's hosts are never overcome in fair and open fighting with His foes. Friendship with the enemies of God is the enmity against God which brings about corruption and defeat.

Caleb appears once again in this narrative, this time as the man of generosity, readily giving to his daughter at her request the field containing the nether and the upper springs. It is ever remarkable how much that man can give who has found his all in God.

 

David Guzik :: Study Guide for Joshua 15

Caleb was not only a man of great and bold deeds (the driving out of the children of Anak), but also a man who encouraged others to great and bold deeds.  He did this by offering his daughter in marriage to the man who was bold enough to conquer a city to have her.

Give me a blessing; since you have given me land in the South, give me also springs of water: As well, Caleb's daughter imitates her father's boldness in asking for blessing.  She did not hesitate to ask her father for some choice springs.