CITY CAPTURED TO WIN WIFE

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3477, 13 October 1926, Page 2

CITY CAPTURED TO WIN WIFE

LIGHT THROWN ON ANCIENT BIBLE ROMANCE.

And Caleb said. Ho that smitCth Kirjath-sepher, and taketh it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter to wife. And Othniei, the son Of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, took it; and he gave him Achsar his daughter to wife. —Joshua XV., 16 and 17. New light Ott this old Siblican romance has been thrown by recent excavations by tho Xenia Theological Seminary of America on the site of the ancient Dcbir, Or Kirjath-sepher, 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 there 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. Othniei, his nephew, succeeded in doing this and won his bride. As a dowry Caleb gave her “a south land,” but she, making the best use of her opportunity, asked for springs of water, and Caleb gave her “tho 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 the efforts made to render it impregnable. On entering them is a sharp turn to the right then again to the left, with recesses in which defenders could hide theniselves. 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 the city? The present discoveries offer si suggestion. About a mile from tbo town ancient wells have been discovered, fed by underground springs, which are thought to be tbo upper and the nether springs referred to. The Bible account seems to imply that tbo city was not taken by assault, 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 the springs may yet bo found. Such a tunnel actually exists from the pool of Siloam leading up into Moriah at Jerusalem.

The wily Caleb probably guessed that Othniel was in iovc with "Achsah, for they were cousins, and were probably brought up together; but he must prove his worth. So Caleb 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 tire city, surprised the sentries at the-,.gate, and admitted the Israelites. ; 1