And Caleb drove thence the three sons of Anak
Some think this was after the death of Joshua, and is here inserted by some other person divinely inspired, and thoroughly acquainted with this fact, that the gift and the possession of this place might appear in one view; but it rather seems to be done before:
Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak;
the very same giants Caleb saw at Hebron, when he was sent a spy into the land, ( Numbers 13:22 ) ; for these may as well be supposed to have lived to this time as himself, unless it can be thought that they were the sons of those men, called by their fathers' names; and though they were driven out when Joshua took Hebron, yet while he was engaged in making other conquests, or however before he died, they regained the possession of that city, and of the parts adjacent to it, from whence Caleb, with the help of his tribe, expelled them, conquered, and slew them, ( Judges 1:10 ) .