But she answered: Give me a blessing, for thou hast given me a dry land: give me also a watery land So Caleb gave her the upper and the nether watery ground.
וַתֹּ֨אמֶר ל֜וֹ הָֽבָה־לִּ֣י בְרָכָ֗ה כִּ֣י אֶ֤רֶץ הַנֶּ֙גֶב֙ נְתַתָּ֔נִי וְנָתַתָּ֥ה לִ֖י גֻּלֹּ֣ת מָ֑יִם וַיִּתֶּן־לָ֣הּ כָּלֵ֗ב אֵ֚ת גֻּלֹּ֣ת עִלִּ֔ית וְאֵ֖ת גֻּלֹּ֥ת תַּחְתִּֽית׃
4 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Description of the Journey of Blessed Paula With awe, she observed the waters above and below, which Gethoniel, son of Jephunneh Kenaz, had acquired instead of the midday sun and the arid land. Through these waters, he had transformed the barren fields he inherited during the initial allotment (Num. 15:17-20). This evoked thoughts of the redemption of long-standing sins through the sacrament of baptism.
What do the phrases 'Give me an outlet (λύτρωσιν) of water, an outlet of the highest, and an outlet of the lowest' signify? Symmachus interprets the term for the highest as irrigation, while the term for the lowest is rendered as plains. Aschan, instructed by her husband Gophoniel, inquired about a field for herself, which led her to request water irrigation. In response to her plea, she received not only a plain but also upland territories. The expression 'according to her heart' reflects the desires she held. In the Scriptures, the elevated areas are referred to as highlands, whereas the lower regions are identified as valleys.
There are typically two types of repentance that the soul experiences in its yearning for God. Initially, the soul repents from a place of fear, apprehensive of eternal punishment due to its acknowledgment of sins. As the terror linked with this sorrow fades, a new sense of confidence and hope for forgiveness arises, igniting a love for the joy found in heaven. The individual who once wept out of dread now grieves intensely over their separation from the divine kingdom. When the mind perceives the heavenly hosts, the communion of saints, and the glorious vision of God, the penitent finds their sorrow deepening, surpassing the tears shed from fear. This journey reveals that perfect repentance born from fear ultimately ushers the soul into love-driven repentance.
This is powerfully illustrated in the historical narratives of Scripture. In the text, we encounter Achsah, the daughter of Caleb, who sighed while seated on her donkey (Judg. 1:14 (LXX)). Caleb inquired about her distress, to which Achsah replied, "Give me a blessing; you have granted me the land of the Negev; give me also springs of water." Caleb then bestowed upon her both the upper and the lower springs. Achsah riding on a donkey symbolizes her uplifted spirit, transcending the base desires of the flesh. Her sigh as she requested her father for water signifies the profound sorrow with which one ought to seek our Creator for tears of repentance.
There are individuals who articulate truths about justice, advocate for the downtrodden, extend their generosity to the needy, and fervently proclaim their faith, yet they have not embraced the grace of tears. While they might possess the land of the Negev, they still require springs of water. As they engage zealously in virtuous deeds, they must also mourn for their past transgressions, whether out of fear of punishment or a deep love for God's kingdom. Recognizing the two forms of repentance, Caleb gifted his daughter both the upper and the lower springs. The soul receives the upper springs when it weeps with a desire to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, while the lower springs are granted when it weeps in fear of damnation. The lower springs are given first, followed by the upper. However, because love-centered repentance holds greater significance, the upper springs are rightly mentioned before the lower.
One who recognizes their own transgressions, possesses a reverent fear of the Lord, and feels genuine remorse accompanied by sorrow, should earnestly seek from God the valuable gift of tears through persistent prayer. In a biblical example, Askhan, daughter of Calev, upon her marriage and receipt of a land parcel as a dowry, sat upon a donkey en route to her husband’s home, imploring her father with deep anguish and lamentation to grant her an additional land parcel rich in water. “To the land of the south (dry) thou hast given me, give me also a spring of water.” Calev granted her request. The Holy Fathers interpret Askhan sitting as a metaphor for the soul, akin to being seated on the instinctual desires of the flesh.
The dry land symbolizes labor conducted under the reverence of God, and Askhan’s initial pleas of anguish emphasize the profound necessity for tears in every ascetic’s life, who must seek the gift of tears from God with deep sighs and heartfelt sorrow. In seeking the gift of tears, it is crucial to actively strive for their emergence. One’s personal effort can both precede and accompany the outpouring of tears.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS