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Friday, 22 December 2023

Joshua 14:1-15 - Caleb

14:1-5

We now get information on the division of the land west of the Jordan, i.e. to the nine and a half tribes who did not take the Transjordan land.  Eleazar the priest was the son of Aaron. There is mention again of the Levites. The point of all this is to emphasise that things were carried out in accordance with the commands of Moses. I.e. all this is a continuation of what began when they came out of Egypt (or what began with God;’s promises to Abraham, to go further back).


14:6-15

The first detail of the allocation is to do with Caleb. Caleb was, along with Joshua, one of the two spies who brought back a good report, and said that God would enable them to take the Promised Land. Caleb had been faithful while most of Israel was unfaithful, and he was rewarded for his faith. He entered the Promised Land, and he remained in excellent health. Calen asked for “this hill country” and was ready to drive out the Anakites. He continued to live by faith. Joshua blessed Caleb and gave him Hebron. Caleb is referred to as a Kenizzite. There is some doubt as to who exactly were the Kenizzites may have been a Gentile people (i.e. not Jewish by birth) who had joined with Israel and become part of them (https://www.gotquestions.org/Kenizzites.html) Whether or not this is the case, the emphasis here is on the faithfulness of Caleb, of his belief in the Lord. 


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