# 1 _And Caleb said, "I will give my daughter Acsah in marriage to the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher." Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, took it; so Caleb gave his daughter Acsah to him in marriage. (JUDGES 1:12__13)
Caleb's declaration seems strange to us. How could he almost raffle off his daughter to the man who was successful in battle? But in Israel a victory in battle could pay off the bride price, which was owed to the father before the marriage. So maybe the man who really wanted her got her through his bravery.
# 2 _And the man who won Acsah would have been a good choice as a husband. Othniel became the first major judge of Israel, the leader who freed the nation from subjection to Cushan-Rishathaim, king of Aram. (Read JUDGES 3:8__9)
# 3 _As part of her dowry, Acsah received dry land in the Negev. So she told her husband to ask Caleb for another field, one that had springs. When Othniel didn't do it, Acsah took on the task hersef and got the land. Surely Caleb was a loving father, being generous with his daughter.
# 4 _What did Acsah think about this marriage? We don't know. Sometimes brides were asked for their consent, or perhaps Caleb saw this as a way to give her the man she wanted without asking money from his brother. Either way, what a method for finding a good man!! No woman today would think of it.
# 5 _Like Acsah, we may find romance in unexpected places. Let's remember to let God do the choosing for us__and no matter what the time or situation, we will be blessed. After all, look at the husband Acsah got.
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