Joshua 14

CHAPTER 14

Division of the Land West of the Jordan (14:1–5)

1–5 These verses form an introduction to the division of the land of Canaan (verse 1), that part of the “promised land” west of the Jordan River. The high priest Eleazar, the son of Aaron, oversaw the assigning of each tribe’s allotment; it was done by lot (verse 2), probably using the Urim and Thummim⁵⁵ (Exodus 28:30; Numbers 27:18–21).

In verses 3–4, the writer again reminds us that the Levites were not granted an inheritance in the land, but instead were given cities to live in (see Numbers 35:1–5; Deuteronomy 18:1–8). The Levites were not counted as one of the original twelve tribes (descendants of the twelve sons of Jacob). Instead, Jacob adopted Joseph’s two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim (verse 4), and they became the founders of two separate tribes (Genesis 48:5). In this way Joseph received the double inheritance he was due as the preeminent son of Jacob, and the number of Israel’s tribes remained at twelve.

Hebron Given to Caleb (14:6–15)

6–9 Caleb, of the tribe of Judah (Numbers 13:6), went to Joshua to ask that he be given his allotment of land, not according to lot, but according to Moses’ promise that he could have the land “on which his feet had walked” (verse 9). Moses had made this promise to Caleb because of Caleb’s faithfulness to God (see Deuteronomy 1:35–36); among the twelve spies sent to explore the land of Canaan forty-five years earlier, only Joshua and Caleb had urged the people to obey God and go up and take the land (see Numbers 13:3031; 14:6–9,23–24,30).

10–12 Though Caleb was eighty-five years old,⁵⁶ he was still in vigorous health. The land he had asked for had been inhabited by Anakites, very large and powerful men (Numbers13:28,32–33;Deuteronomy 9:1–3); earlier, under Joshua’s leadership, the Anakites had mostly been destroyed (Joshua 11:21–22). But if any were left, Caleb was confident that with the Lord’s help he would be able to drive them out (verse 12).

13–15 So Caleb was given the city of Hebron, located within the tribal allotment of Judah, Caleb’s tribe (see Joshua 15:13–14).

Let us consider Caleb’s life; he, like Joshua, was one of the greatest men of Israel. Where the ten faithless spies saw only giants, Caleb saw God (Numbers 13:3031). The spies walked by sight; Caleb walked by faith. They saw obstacles; he saw opportunity. The ten spies and that entire generation of faithless Israelites died in the desert; only Caleb and Joshua entered the land and received their inheritance.

During those thirty-eight years in the desert, Caleb’s faith was surely tested. But his mind and heart were set on the promised land. Caleb exemplified the Apostle Paul’s word to the Colossians (and to us): . . . set your hearts on things above (Colossians 3:1–4).

As for us, when we find ourselves passing through the “desert,” let us follow Caleb’s example. Caleb was totally yielded to God. He believed in God’s promises. He kept his mind focused on his destination and he depended on God to help him reach it. If we do these things, we too will come through into the promised land. . . . thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57).