Numbers 32:12

12 But only Caleb, the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, and Joshua, the son of Nun: because they have been true to the Lord.

Numbers 32:12 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 32:12

Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite, and Joshua the
son of Nun
See ( Numbers 14:30 ) , whether Caleb or Jephunneh is called the Kenezite is not so easy to determine; the latter rather seems to be most correct, for that Caleb should be called so from Kenaz the father of Othniel, who is said to be Caleb's brother seems not to be agreeable; since it is not likely that they were his own brothers, or Caleb would not have given his daughter to him; besides Jephunneh and not Kenaz is always said to be the father of Caleb, unless his father can be thought to have two names; it is most likely that Jephunneh, and so Caleb, might be called the Kenezite, from an ancestor of theirs of that name: Jarchi says, Caleb was the son-in-law of Kenaz, and Caleb's mother bore unto him Othniel:

for they have wholly followed the Lord;
here what was said of Caleb, ( Numbers 14:24 ) is said both of him and Joshua; (See Gill on Numbers 14:24).

Numbers 32:12 In-Context

10 And at that time the Lord was moved to wrath, and made an oath, saying,

11 Truly, not one of the men of twenty years old and over who came out of Egypt will see the land which I gave by oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; because they have not been true to me with all their heart;

12 But only Caleb, the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, and Joshua, the son of Nun: because they have been true to the Lord.

13 Then the Lord was angry with Israel, and he made them wanderers in the waste land for forty years? till all that generation who had done evil in the eyes of the Lord was dead.

14 And now you have come to take the place of your fathers, another generation of sinners, increasing the wrath of the Lord against Israel.