Joshua 14:6-12

Caleb's Request Joshua 14:6-12

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.
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.
8 Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the Lord my God.
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.
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.
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.
12 Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakim 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.

4.

Why was Caleb called a Kenezite? Joshua 14:6

The word -Kenezite is a title given to Caleb or to Jephunneh. This reference causes some to believe that Caleb descended from an Edomite named Kenaz. Kenaz was one of the sons of Eliphaz, the oldest son of Esau. He became the leader of one of the Edomite tribes (Genesis 36:11; Genesis 36:15). Caleb also had a brother, the father of Othniel by this same name (Joshua 15:17, Judges 1:13; Judges 3:9; Judges 3:11). Several descendants of Caleb, or names which may be compared with Edomite names are listed here:

a.

Shobal (1 Chronicles 2:52, Genesis 36:29)

b.

Korah (1 Chronicles 2:43; Genesis 36:14; Genesis 36:16; Genesis 36:18)

c.

Elah (1 Chronicles 4:15, Genesis 36:41)

The Kenezites are mentioned in Genesis 15:19 along with the Kenites and the Kadmonites who were among the nations to be dispossessed by Israel. These nations evidently dwelt somewhere in the southern part of Canaan.

5.

How long had Israel been in Canaan when Caleb made his request? Joshua 14:7; Joshua 14:10

Caleb said that he was forty years old when he went to spy out the land (Joshua 14:7). This was in the days of Moses and at the beginning of the wanderings (Numbers 13). When he made his request for land in Canaan he was eighty-five years old (Joshua 14:10). Forty-five years had elapsed between the time of Caleb's espionage and the time of his request of Joshua. Forty years of this had been spent in wandering before they entered into the Promised Land. This would indicate that the wars of conquest occupied only five years.

6.

Why did Caleb call the ten spies his brothers? Joshua 14:8

Caleb said the other spies had made the hearts of the people to melt, but he wholly followed the Lord his God. Caleb had very little in common with the spies bringing the evil report, but they were related to him by their common ancestry in Jacob. The brotherhood was one of the flesh and not one of the spirit. The ten spies had come from the tribes of Reuben, Simeon, Issachar, Zebulun, Dan, Napthali, Gad, Asher, Manasseh, and Benjamin. Joshua was of the tribe of Ephraim. Caleb was with the tribe of Judah. These two tribes were honored in having such able men as Joshua and Caleb.

7.

Is there a record of Moses-' promise to Caleb? Joshua 14:9

Moses said of Caleb that he would see the land and that God would give to him the land that he had trodden on (Deuteronomy 1:36). This appears to be something of a general promise because God said to Joshua: Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses (Joshua 1:3). It is also recorded that God said of Caleb he would be brought into the land and his seed would possess it (Numbers 14:24). All of this points to the promise as a rather general covenant made with Caleb. He probably was given the privilege of selecting whatever land he desired.

8.

What was the reason for Caleb's strength? Joshua 14:11

Caleb said that he was as strong at eighty-five years of age as he had been when he was only forty. For this reason, some have called him a cheerful old prevaricator. Such a title was given to him by an octogenarian who said that he knew he was not as strong at eighty as he had been at forty. Nevertheless, we find that the natural force of Moses was unabated when he died at one hundred twenty years of age. It was said of him that his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated (Deuteronomy 34:7). Caleb had wholly followed the Lord, and God had given him unusual longevity and strength.

9.

What mountain did Caleb want? Joshua 14:12

It is not apparent from the Scripture text that Joshua and Caleb were in the southern part of Canaan when Caleb made his request, yet his request was so definite that there was no misunderstanding about which mountain he wanted. His reference may have been in general to the hill country of Judah, a mountainous section of the land which formed the central part of Canaan. Further clarification of the land he desired was made by his continued description of the territory.

10.

Who were the Anakim? Joshua 14:12 b

The Anakim were descendants of Anak, Anak is identified as the son of Arba. The Anakim were a terror to the children of Israel (Numbers 13:22-28), but Caleb was not afraid of them. He said if the Lord were with him, he would be able to drive them out. He was resting on the promises of God. He had no fear, even though these people are sometimes described as giants since the name means the long neck ones.

11.

What cities were in the area? Joshua 14:12 c

Caleb described the land as being a land in which the cities were great and fenced. Hebron is mentioned as one of these cities. Another was Debir, a city which was also known as the book cityKirjath-Sepher (Joshua 15:15). These cities had been the capital cities for kings who had entered into the southern coalition to fight against Joshua. The kings had been defeated in battle, but their cities had not been razed. The land had not been occupied. This was Caleb's task.