Joshua 14:7

7 For I was forty years old when Moses the servant of God sent me out of Cades Barne to spy out the land; and I returned him an answer according to his mind.

Joshua 14:7 Meaning and Commentary

Joshua 14:7

Forty years old [was] I when Moses the servant of the Lord
sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land
Not he alone, but eleven more with him, one out of every tribe; his age he mentions, and of which, or near it, it is highly probable the rest of the spies were, to show that he and they were in the prime of their days, both as to bodily strength and intellectual capacity, which were requisite for such service as to spy out the land, of what quality that and its inhabitants were; and Moses he calls the servant of the Lord, because it was by the order and appointment of God, signified to Moses, that this was done; and the place from whence they were sent forth is named, which ascertains what that Kadesh was, where Israel was encamped when the spies were sent, ( Numbers 13:26 ) ;

and I brought him word again, as [it was] in mine heart;
that is, he gave to Moses upon his return a sincere, honest and faithful representation of the land, and its inhabitants, as it appeared to him.

Joshua 14:7 In-Context

5 As the Lord commanded Moses, so did the children of Israel; and they divided the land.

6 And the children of Juda came to Joshua in Galgal, and Chaleb the of Jephone the Kenezite said to him, Thou knowest the word that the Lord spoke to Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Cades Barne.

7 For I was forty years old when Moses the servant of God sent me out of Cades Barne to spy out the land; and I returned him an answer according to his mind.

8 My brethren that went up with me turned away the heart of the people, but I applied my self to follow the Lord my God.

9 And Moses sware on that day, saying, The land on which thou art gone up, it shall be thy inheritance and thy children's for ever, because thou hast applied thyself to follow the Lord our God.