Caleb’s Inheritance
Joshua 14
Joshua 14
Joshua 14. In this chapter we have the encouraging example of Caleb who is said to have “fully followed the Lord”. We see his faith and perseverance as he claims the inheritance that was promised to him forty-five years earlier. Though now eighty-five, Caleb remains full of vigor, trusting in God’s faithfulness and strength to possess Hebron, which was the stronghold of the Anakim (giants). His example illustrates humility, patience, and strength in spiritual warfare, as he seeks not prominence but the promised land, an “exceeding good land”. Hebron, formerly called Kirjath-Arba, becomes Caleb’s inheritance, and speaks of communion with God.
The Inheritance by Lot (14:1-5)
CHAPTER 14
1 And this is what the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the chief fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, allotted for inheritance to them: 2 their inheritance was by lot, as Jehovah had commanded by Moses, for the nine tribes, and the half tribe. 3 For Moses had given the inheritance of the two tribes and the half tribe beyond the Jordan, but to the Levites he had given no inheritance among them. 4 For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim; and they gave no part to the Levites in the land, save cities to dwell in, and their suburbs for their cattle and for their substance. 5 As Jehovah had commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did, and they divided the land.
vv.1-5 The Inheritance by Lot. The chapter begins with some introduction on the division of the land west of the Jordan to the tribes by their lots. Here we find Eleazar the priest involved with Joshua in this effort. Joseph became two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim, and together they inherited about one third of the promised land. The tribe of Levi was no land-inheritance, but the were given certain cities to live in. The division of the land would follow ” As Jehovah had commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did”.
Caleb’s Request and Inheritance (14:6-15)
6 Then the children of Judah came near to Joshua in Gilgal, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, Thou knowest the word that Jehovah spoke to Moses the man of God, concerning me and thee, in Kadesh-barnea. 7 Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of Jehovah sent me from Kadesh-barnea to search out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in my heart. 8 And my brethren that had gone up with me made the heart of the people melt; but I wholly followed Jehovah my God. 9 And Moses swore on that day, saying, The land whereon thy feet have trodden shall assuredly be thine inheritance, and thy children’s for ever! for thou hast wholly followed Jehovah my God.
vv.6-8 Caleb Remembers Moses’ Promise. We find that Israel was once again returned to Gilgal when the division of the land commenced. As the most prominent of the nine and half tribes, the tribe of Judah came forward first to received their inheritance. But first Caleb steps forward, to ask for what was promised to him: the region of Hebron. This was not a fleshly desire to have the preeminence, but the energy of faith in Caleb, though an old man. The inheritance had been promised to him forty-five years earlier! He was ready then to take Kirjath-Arba and drive out the Anakims, but unbelief on the part of his countrymen caused him, along with the people, to wander for thirty-eight years. We do not read of one word of complaint from Caleb about this “delay” in receiving his portion. Further, he waited another seven years for the early battles of conquest to be completed. But he had not forgotten the “exceeding good land” (Num. 14:7) that he had seen, nor the promise that it was to be his.
10 And now behold, Jehovah has kept me alive, as he said, these forty-five years, since Jehovah spoke this word to Moses, when Israel wandered in the wilderness; and now behold, I am this day eighty-five years old. 11 I am still this day strong, as in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out and to come in. 12 And now give me this mountain, of which Jehovah spoke in that day; for thou heardest in that day that Anakim are there, and great fortified cities. If so be Jehovah shall be with me, then I shall dispossess them, as Jehovah said.
vv.10-12 Caleb’s Request for Hebron. Caleb reflected on the Lord’s remarkable care for him while Israel wandered in the wilderness. He was as strong at eighty-five standing before Joshua and Eleazar as he had been forty-five years earlier. What a testimony to the faithfulness of God! Caleb had fully followed the Lord, and the Lord had been with him. At last it was time, so he says, “And now give me this mountain”. Hebron was not one mountain peak, but a raised area in the Judean hill country. It was inhabited by the Anakim, the family of giants headed by their father Arba, who dwelt in “great fortified cities”. Yet, in spite of the difficult task ahead, Caleb’s confidence was not in himself, but in the Lord and His word. “If so be Jehovah shall be with me, then I shall dispossess them, as Jehovah said.” This is an example of the believer’s humility and strength in the spiritual warfare that we are in. We find in Ephesians that our strength is not to be in ourselves, but in God. We are to “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” (Eph. 6:10-12), just as Caleb was, “for war, both to go out and to come in”.
13 And Joshua blessed him, and gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance. 14 Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed Jehovah the God of Israel. 15 Now the name of Hebron before was Kirjath-Arba; the great man among the Anakim. And the land rested from war.
v.13 Caleb Given Hebron, His Commendation. So, Joshua blessed Caleb (though peers, Joshua was the leader), and gave Hebron to him for an inheritance. The commendation of Caleb is repeated; “he wholly followed Jehovah the God of Israel”. The former name of the city was Kirjath-Arba, meaning ‘city of Arba’, who was the father of Anak the father of Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, whom Caleb drove out and killed ( Joshua 15:13–14 ; Judges 1:10). Of all the places for an old man to chose, Caleb chose perhaps the most difficult. But he valued that land, and trusted the Lord to help him. The city was renamed “Hebron”, which means communion. It is a picture of how the enemy of our souls wants to rob us of communion with the Lord, and invests great effort to prevent us from taking Hebron. Notice that Caleb didn’t fight for the love of fighting, but for ultimate peace; “And the land rested from war” (v.15).