דברי הימים א, פרק ב׳, פסוק מ״ח

Tracing the family tree of Caleb involves sorting out the exact relationships within his household, particularly regarding his concubine, Maacah. The primary approach among commentators is that Caleb fathered two children with her, named Sheber and Tirhanah [רד״ק, מצודת דוד וביאור שטיינזלץ].

A completely different perspective suggests that these names do not belong to Caleb's children at all, but rather explain Maacah's own family background. This approach proposes that a man named Sheber and his wife Tirhanah were actually Maacah's parents. During that era, Sheber and Tirhanah were highly respected and famous individuals. It was precisely because of her noble and distinguished background that their daughter Maacah was chosen to become Caleb's concubine [מלבי״ם].

The exact identity of this Caleb is also a matter of discussion. Looking at the broader family tree, the Sages identify him as the famous Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, since a daughter named Achsah appears later in the lineage. On the other hand, the plain reading of the text suggests this is a different Caleb, the brother of Jerahmeel. According to this straightforward reading, this older Caleb also had a daughter named Achsah, and the famous Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, simply named his own daughter after her in a later generation [מלבי״ם].