Joshua 14:1-15
Jos 14:1
And these are the countries which the children of
Israel inherited in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the
son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of
Israel, distributed for inheritance to them.
Now that the land distribution was settled on the east
side of Jordan, we proceed to the west side of Jordan or the land of Canaan.
Now this was done with several people involved so this way no one can
claim their tribe was shorted land.
It was Joshua, Eleazar the priest and the heads of the fathers of the tribes.
17 These
are the names of the men which
shall divide the land unto you: Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun.
18 And ye shall take one prince of every tribe, to divide the land by
inheritance. (Numbers 34:17-18) Those in attendance were already named
before the crossover event.
Jos 14:2
By lot was their inheritance, as the LORD
commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half
tribe.
The half tribe of Manasseh was granted land on both sides
of the Jordan. Just as Reuben, Gad,
and the half tribe of Manasseh had their apportionments on the east side, the
other nine and one half tribes would now have their inheritance given according
to the Mosaic law.
Jos 14:3
For Moses had given the inheritance of two tribes and an
half tribe on the other side Jordan: but unto the Levites he gave none
inheritance among them.
Moses had given the proper apportionment of lands to
those on the east side of Jordan but the Levites had no land inheritance.
They would receive their sustenance from the tribes and would have
Levitical cities within the twelve tribes.
Jos 14:4
For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and
Ephraim: therefore they gave no part unto the Levites in the land, save cities
to dwell in, with their suburbs for their cattle and for their substance.
Since Jacob had adopted the two sons of Joseph, they were
each given a portion of land which was a double portion.
This means the Levites had no land granted to them to keep the tribes at
the number of twelve. The Levites
would dwell in cities given to them which would also have the suburbs along with
the sustenance they needed in the form of cattle or whatever was needed for
their ability to do the tabernacle service.
Jos 14:5
As the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel
did, and they divided the land.
As the LORD had given command to Moses, Moses had
distributed the land according to the LORD’s commandment which was fulfilled in
the time of Joshua.
Jos 14:6
Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal:
and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the
thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in
Kadesh-barnea.
Then while Joshua was still in Gilgal, Caleb and the
heads of the tribe of Judah came to see him.
The term Kenezite means that Caleb was descended from the sons of Esau.
Kenaz was his descendant who came through the line of Eliphaz.
And the sonnes of Eliphaz were,
Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz. (Genesis 36:11)
Jephunneh was of the tribe of Judah.
Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the
son of Jephunneh. (Numbers 13:6)
Then Caleb reminds Joshua of what the LORD said unto Moses concerning him
and Joshua when they were in Kadesh-barnea.
This was the place where the spies were dispatched and where they
returned to. It has been forty five
years since they both had spied out the land for Moses.
Jos 14:7
Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of
the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word
again as it was in mine heart.
Caleb reminds Joshua that at the time they spied out the
land that he was only forty years old.
He went with a total of twelve men including Joshua.
He probably told Joshua that he was 40 to show that he was in his prime
and strong being a younger man. He
had made a report to Moses when he returned with the other eleven.
His report was that they should go over the Jordan and take the land
because the LORD could handle the giants which lived there.
Jos 14:8
Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the
heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.
He then states that the reports of the other ten spies
was so bad that they made the hearts of the people melt with fear.
When they left Egypt they had high hopes with much encouragement but the
reports of the ten had caused them to become discouraged.
Caleb states that he was in total opposition to their fear mongering and
gave the report the way it should be given, that is, that the same LORD who
delivered them from Egypt could easily defeat the people of the land.
Jos 14:9
And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land
whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children's for
ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God.
Then Caleb repeats back the oath that Moses took that day
which he received from the LORD.
35 Surely there shall not one
of these men of this evil generation see that good land, which I sware to give
unto your fathers, 36 Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh; he shall see
it, and to him will I give the land that he hath trodden upon, and to his
children, because he hath wholly followed the LORD. (Deuteronomy 1:35-36)
Caleb was given the city of Hebron and surrounding areas.
And they gave Hebron unto Caleb,
as Moses said: and he expelled thence the three sons of Anak. (Judges 1:20)
Jos 14:10
And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said,
these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses,
while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I
am this day fourscore and five years old.
Then Caleb continues stating that the LORD had kept him
alive these forty five years since the time the LORD spoke to Moses and
including the forty years of wilderness wanderings.
Now Caleb is eighty five years old.
Jos 14:11
As yet I am as strong this day as I was 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.
Then he tells Joshua that he is as strong today as he was
in the time of Moses. His strength
was equal to the day when Moses sent him out with the other spies.
To go out and come in was a phrase which meant that he was up to any task
that needed to be done whether military or business.
God gives strength to his people to complete whatever tasks he has for
them and especially since he promised Caleb the land for his obedience and now
gives him the strength to be the recipient of that promise fulfilled.
Jos 14:12
Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD
spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were
there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be
the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the
LORD said.
The mountain area would have been the area around Hebron
and Debir and some of the surrounding cities.
Caleb did not request a certain place but was given these places as a
reward for his obedience. The
Anakims had dwelt in this area and the cities were large but his confidence was
not in himself but in the LORD who would be with him in battle and which would
result in the expulsion of the Anakims.
This would also means that they might try to escape to the mountains and
the caves and from there also he would drive them out.
Jos 14:13
And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of
Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.
Then Joshua gave him the blessing of the LORD and gave
Caleb the city of Hebron for an inheritance.
There was also the surrounding field and villages around Hebron which was
given to Caleb.
10 Which the children of Aaron, being
of the families of the Kohathites, who were of the children of Levi, had:
for theirs was the first lot. 11 And they gave them the city of Arba
the father of Anak, which city is Hebron, in the hill country of
Judah, with the suburbs thereof round about it. 12 But the fields of
the city, and the villages thereof, gave they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for
his possession. (Joshua 21:10-12)
Jos 14:14
Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son
of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the
LORD God of Israel.
At the time of the writing of this book which may have
been right before Joshua died in 1386 B.C.
Hebron was the inheritance of Caleb at the time of the writing of this
book which may have been about eight years since he received the inheritance
making him ninety three years old when Joshua wrote his book.
Jos 14:15
And the name of Hebron before was Kirjath-arba;
which Arba was a great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from
war.