Joshua 14:6-15

Caleb Receives Hebron

6 Then the descendants of Judah came to Joshua at Gilgal; and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, "You know the word that Yahweh said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea concerning you and me.
7 {I was forty years old} when Moses Yahweh's servant sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land, and I returned {with an honest report}.
8 My companions who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt, but I remained true to Yahweh my God.
9 And Moses swore on that day, saying, 'Surely the land that your foot has trodden on will be an inheritance to you and your sons forever, because you remained true to Yahweh my God.'
10 So then, look, Yahweh has kept me alive just as he promised these forty-five years, from the time that Yahweh spoke this word to Moses while Israel {wandered} in the wilderness. Now look, today {I am eighty-five years old}.
11 Today I am still strong, just as on the day that Moses sent me; as my strength [was] then, so now also [is] my strength for war {and for daily activities}.
12 So now give me this hill country that Yahweh spoke [of] on that day, for you heard on that day that the Anakites [were] there, with great and fortified cities. Perhaps Yahweh [is] with me, and I will drive them out just as Yahweh promised."
13 And Joshua blessed him and gave Hebron to Caleb son of Jephunneh as an inheritance.
14 Thus Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he remained true to Yahweh the God of Israel.
15 And the name of Hebron formerly [was] Kiriath Arba; [Arba was] the greatest person among the Anakites. And the land rested from war.

Joshua 14:6-15 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JOSHUA 14

This chapter proceeds to give an account of the countries divided to the children of Israel in the land of Canaan, Jos 14:1-5; but previous to that division relates the claim of Caleb to Hebron, through a promise made unto him by Moses forty five years ago, upon his report of the good land, whither he was sent a spy by him, Jos 14:6-12; and the grant which Joshua made of it to him, with his blessing, Jos 14:13-15.

Footnotes 10

  • [a]. Or "sons"
  • [b]. Literally "I [was] a son of forty year[s]"
  • [c]. Literally "with a word just as [was] with my heart"
  • [d]. Hebrew "heart"
  • [e]. Hebrew "year"
  • [f]. Literally "went"
  • [g]. Literally "I [am] a son of eighty-five year[s]"
  • [h]. Literally "for going out and for coming [in]"
  • [i]. Or "said"
  • [j]. Or "the city of Arba"
Scripture quotations marked (LEB) are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.