Josua 14:12

12 So gib mir nun dies Gebirge, davon der HERR geredet hat an jenem Tage; denn du hast's gehört am selben Tage. Denn es wohnen die Enakiter droben, und sind große feste Städte. Ob der HERR mit mir sein wollte, daß ich sie vertriebe, wie der HERR geredet hat.

Josua 14:12 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 14:12

Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the Lord spake
in that day
The mountainous part of the country, the hill country of Judea, in which Hebron, Debir, and other cities were; for it was not one particular city only that Caleb requested, but a large tract of ground;

for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims [were] there, and [that]
the cities [were] great and fenced;
that the giants, called Anakims, dwelt in the mountainous country, and their cities, Hebron, Debir, and Anab, were very large, and well fortified; this Joshua heard at the time the spies were sent into the land, he being one of them; and this he heard, not from the report of the spies, but from the people of the country, and therefore must know that to conquer these men, and subdue their cities, was an arduous undertaking; but since he had strength and courage, he hoped his request would be granted:

if so be the Lord [will be] with me;
which he spake not as doubting of his presence and power to be with him, and assist him, but as placing his confidence therein, and, distrusting his own power and ability, having no dependence or that, but believing that the Lord, or, as the Targum, the Word of the Lord, would be with him for his help:

then,
says Caleb,

I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said;
that is, to drive the Anakims out of their cities, or out of the mountains, the caves and dens there, to which they betook themselves, since the taking of Hebron, Debir, and Anab, by Joshua, ( Joshua 11:22 ) ; and he relied upon the promise of God to enable him to do this, and not upon his natural strength and courage, or the number and prowess of the warlike tribe of Judah, of which he was prince.

Josua 14:12 In-Context

10 Und nun siehe, der HERR hat mich leben lassen, wie er geredet hat. Es sind nun fünfundvierzig Jahre, daß der HERR solches zu Mose sagte, die Israel in der Wüste gewandelt ist. Und nun siehe, ich bin heut fünfundachtzig Jahre alt{~} {~} {~}

11 und bin noch heutigestages so stark, als ich war des Tages, da mich Mose aussandte; wie meine Kraft war dazumal, also ist sie auch jetzt, zu streiten und aus und ein zu gehen.

12 So gib mir nun dies Gebirge, davon der HERR geredet hat an jenem Tage; denn du hast's gehört am selben Tage. Denn es wohnen die Enakiter droben, und sind große feste Städte. Ob der HERR mit mir sein wollte, daß ich sie vertriebe, wie der HERR geredet hat.

13 Da segnete ihn Josua und gab also Hebron Kaleb, dem Sohn Jephunnes, zum Erbteil.

14 Daher ward Hebron Kalebs, des Sohnes Jephunnes, des Kenisiters, Erbteil bis auf diesen Tag, darum daß er dem HERRN, dem Gott Israels, treulich gefolgt war.