When she came, she had him ask her father for a field. She got off her donkey, and Caleb said, “What do you want?”
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 18. Was moved; as the Syr. Arab. Junius, and so forth represent the matter. Others render the Hebrew in a different sense: “she moved him to ask of her father a field, and she lighted off her ass, and Caleb said unto her,” and so forth which seems very abrupt, as she herself is represented as soliciting for the favour in the next verse, instead of her husband. The Chaldee supposes that she was restrained by natural modesty, from preferring the petition; but when Othoniel refused to do it, or was denied what he requested, she took courage and asked herself. The sense of the Vulgate seems more natural, ( Calmet.) as the husband might easily suppose that she would have greater influence with her father. Bible.—Sighed. The original term is found only in this history, and in that of the death of Sisara. Judges 4:21. Septuagint “she cried out.” Others translate, “she remained fixed,” ( Menochius.) or “she waited sitting on the ass,” till she had obtained her request.