CITY CAPTURED TO WIN WIFE

Shannon News, 5 November 1926, Page 2

CITY CAPTURED TO WIN WIFE

_ . LIGHT THROWN ON ANCIENT BIBLE ROMANCE. And Caleb said, He that amiteth Kirjath-sepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife. ' And Othniel, the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it; and he gave hirn Achsar his daughter to wife. —Joshua XV., 16 and 17.

New light on this old Biblican romance has been thrown by recent excavations by the Xenia Theological Seminary of America on the site ot the ancient Debir, or Kirjath-scphcr, in Southern Palestine. The country had been subdued by the conquests of Joshua, the Rev. C. C. Dobson, of Hastings, points out, but here and thero strongholds remained unsubdued. One of these, Kirjath-sepher, lay in the region allotted to .Caleb. Caleb realised that the city was almost impregnable. He was too old —being the last survivor of those who set out from Egypt with Moses —to attempt its assault. In truly Eastern fashion he promised his daughter, Achsah, in marriage to tho one who captured it. Othniel, his nephew, succeeded in doing this and won his bride. As a dowry Caleb gave her "a south land," but she, making tho best use of her opportunity, asked for springs of water, and Caleb gave her "the upper and the nether springs." Gateway Maze.

It is this city which is being excavated. The walls, 10ft'. to 14ft. thick, testify to its ancient strength. They show traces of a yet older city underneath. The gateway reveals' tho efforts made to render it impregnable. On entering them is a sharp turn to the right then again to tho left, with recesses in which defenders could hide themselves. There is ' also an extensive network of galleries and rooms, probably intended for the storage of grain and water. How, then, did Othniel succeed in capturing tho city? The present discoveries offer a, suggestion.' About a mile from tho town ancient wells have been discovered, fed by underground springs, which are thought to be the upper and the nether springs referredvto. The Bible account seems to imply that tho city was not taken by assaaujt, but by guile, since only one man could win the prize. ' Some secret way in would appear to have become known. The chambers for storing water must have had some channel of supply Some underground passage of escape for the defenders, or for water possibly leading to /he springs mav yet be found. Such a tunnel actually exists from the pool ,01 Siloam leading up ijnto Monah at Jerusalem. , The wily Caleb probably guessed that Othniel was in love with Aehfeah, for they were cousins, and were probably brought up together; but ho must prove his worth. So Calco

threw down the challenge, knowing that Othniel would not allow another to rob him of his bride. With one or two attendants Othniel secretly penetrated into tho city, surprised the sentries at the gate, and admitted the Israelites.