Joshua 14:1-15
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.
2 By lot was their inheritance, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half tribe.
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.
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.
5 As the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did, and they divided the land.
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 Kadeshbarnea.
7 Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadeshbarnea 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 wandereda 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 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.
13 And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.
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.
15 And the name of Hebron before was Kirjatharba; which Arba was a great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from war.
WEST OF JORDAN: THE LAND DIVIDED BY LOT
(vv. 1-5)
The land west of the Jordan River was divided by Joshua and Eleazar the priest. It was not their discretion that decided this, however, for as to what possessions each tribe was to have, this was decided by casting lots (v.2). Proverbs 16:33 tells us, "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord." Each tribe was left responsible to dispossess any enemies that might remain in their particular inheritance.
Because the Levites were not given territory of their own, except cities in the other tribal property for them to live in, the tribe of Joseph was separated into two tribes, Ephraim and Manasseh (vv. 3-4), so that the land was divided to accommodate 12 tribes.
HEBRON GIVEN TO CALEB
(vv. 8-15)
True energy of faith is seen in Caleb, who leads a group from Judah to claim the inheritance he had been promised by Moses. He reminded Joshua of Moses' promise to both him and Joshua because of their standing firmly for the Lord when the other ten spies had brought back a report to put Israel in fear of entering the land (Numbers 14:6).
At that time Caleb says he was forty years of age (v. 7), and when sent to spy out the land he brought back a report that fully honored the Lord. When others discouraged the people, he wholly followed the Lord (vv. 7-8). Because of his faithfulness, Moses had sworn that the land Caleb's feet trod upon would be his inheritance. Therefore, his faith, depending on the Word of God, claimed what rightly belonged to him (v. 9). This is deeply instructive for believers today. What God has declared to be ours in scripture, such as we see in the book of Ephesians, we should surely claim with true boldness of faith.
While all the men of Israel who had been over twenty when Caleb was forty, had died before the entry into Canaan (except Joshua), Caleb had continued now till he was 85 (v. 10), and told Joshua that he was as strong at 85 as he had been at 40 to go to war (v. 11). Thus, he and Joshua would be fully 20years older than any of the other men of Israel, yet still full of courage. Caleb's name means "a dog," and he was evidently a Gentile proselyte in Israel (Gentiles being regarded as dogs by Jews), but dogs are noted for their unwavering devotion to one master, and Caleb's devotion to the God of Israel was a salutary example for all Israel.
Therefore, Caleb claimed "this mountain," where the Anakim (giants) lived and who had great and fortified cities (v. 12). He did not look for the easiest place to possess, but the reverse. It made no difference to him how strong the giants were: God was stronger than they. This was enough for him. How good it would be if every believer today had the same firm decision of faith as did Caleb!
In answer to the faith of Caleb, Joshua blessed him and gave him Hebron as an inheritance (v. 13). Hebron means "communion," so that typically Caleb is blessed with the special sweetness of communion with the One to whom he was devoted. It will be so with us too if we do not shrink from the conflict of possessing those possessions that are obtained by genuine faith. If we "wholly follow the Lord" we shall know in vital experience the truth of the words of the Lord Jesus, "If any one loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him" (John 14:23).
Verse 15tells us that Hebron had formerly been called Kirjath Arba (city of Arba), and Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim. Thus Caleb had no hesitation in dispossessing the greatest of the giants. When he did this, "the land had rest from war."