Joshua 14 Study Notes

14:1 Eleazar was the son of Aaron, and his successor as well as the leader of the Levites (Ex 6:23-25; Nm 20:25-28; 26:60; Dt 10:6). He used the Urim (and Thummim) to determine God’s will and to allot the tribal lands (Nm 27:19-22; 34:17). The land of Canaan implies that the region east of the Jordan River, allotted in the previous chapter, was not part of Canaan.

14:2 The use of the lot for the distribution of the land is commanded in Nm 26:55-56; 33:54; 34:13; 36:2. The size of the tribe was also considered (Nm 33:54). The lot was not considered arbitrary but was directed by God (Pr 16:33).

14:3-5 This introduction mentions the absence of Levitical lands twice and explicitly anticipates the allotment of towns to that tribe in chap. 21. The absence of the Levites should reduce the number of eligible tribes to eleven, but Joseph’s two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, each received a tribal inheritance.

14:6 Judah’s relative importance, if only because of its larger size than the other tribes, may give it the right to go first. Caleb was one of the two spies, along with Joshua, who were sent to spy out the promised land and returned with a good report (Nm 13-14). Caleb’s designation as a Kenizzite is otherwise unattested, but it may be related to the name of Caleb’s brother, Kenaz (15:17).

14:7 Caleb’s age of forty at the time of the first spying out of the land puts him with the first generation of Israel who left Egypt. He now spoke to the new generation and recounted what they might not know.

14:8 For Israel to lose heart recalls the defeat at the first assault on Ai (7:5) as well as the Canaanites’ fear when they learned of Israel’s victories (2:11; 5:1; Ex 15:15). Note the emphasis on Caleb’s loyalty (Jos 14:8-9,14; cp. Nm 14:24; 32:12; Dt 1:36).

14:10 Caleb’s reference to forty-five years suggests that following the wilderness wanderings of about forty years, the time spent in the battles of chaps. 1-12 amounted to about five years.

14:11 The ongoing strength of Caleb despite his old age compares with that of Moses (Dt 34:7). He was still capable of fighting for his land and settling on it.

14:12 Caleb had confidence in the Lord and his promises despite the challenges facing him. Perhaps expresses his humility before the Lord.

14:13-14 When the spies searched the land, they traveled its length. However, the description of their activity focused on Hebron and the nearby Valley of Eshcol (Nm 13:22-24). These were located in the southern hill country of Judah. This would have been among the closest major inland towns in Canaan from their base at Kadesh-barnea. Thus the gift of land to Caleb involved the area of Hebron where he had visited and spent more time than anywhere else (Dt 1:36).

14:15 The note about Hebron’s name recalls the mighty Anakim (11:21) who were there, and it anticipates Caleb’s defeat of them in 15:14. Kiriath-arba is a second and earlier name for Hebron. The first part of the name means “city”; thus, the note suggests the meaning, “city of Arba,” where Arba is the name of the greatest man among the Anakim. This would predate Israel’s appearance because none of the Anakim that Caleb fought (15:14) bore this name. The note that the land had rest from war indicates success for Caleb.