Joshua 14
Introduction to the Land Division
1These are the inheritances which the children of Israel took in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers’ houses of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed to them,
2by the lot of their inheritance, as the LORD commanded by Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half-tribe.
3For Moses had given the inheritance of the two tribes and the half-tribe beyond the Jordan; but to the Levites he gave no inheritance among them.
4For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim. They gave no portion to the Levites in the land, except cities to dwell in, with their pasture lands for their livestock and for their property.
5The children of Israel did as the LORD commanded Moses, and they divided the land.
Caleb's Inheritance
6Then the children of Judah came near to Joshua in Gilgal. Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know the thing that the LORD spoke to Moses the man of God concerning me and concerning you in Kadesh Barnea.
7I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land. I brought him word again as it was in my heart.
8Nevertheless, my brothers who went up with me made the heart of the people melt; but I wholly followed the LORD my God.
9Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land where you walked shall be an inheritance to you and to your children forever, because you have wholly followed the LORD my God.’
10“Now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, as he spoke, these forty-five years, from the time that the LORD spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness. Now, behold, I am eighty-five years old, today.
11As yet I am as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me. As my strength was then, even so is my strength now for war, to go out and to come in.
12Now therefore give me this hill country, of which the LORD spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and great and fortified cities. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall drive them out, as the LORD said.”
13Joshua blessed him; and he gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance.
14Therefore Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he followed the LORD, the God of Israel wholeheartedly.
15Now the name of Hebron before was Kiriath Arba, after the greatest man among the Anakim. Then the land had rest from war.
Joshua 14 marks the beginning of the formal land distribution process in Canaan, overseen by Eleazar the priest, Joshua, and tribal leaders according to God's commands through Moses. The chapter highlights Caleb's remarkable request for his inheritance at age 85, recalling God's promise made 45 years earlier when he faithfully spied out the land. Caleb's unwavering faith and physical vigor exemplify wholehearted devotion to God, as he boldly claims the challenging hill country of Hebron despite its formidable Anakim inhabitants.
Context
This chapter transitions from the conquest narratives to the detailed territorial allotments that will dominate the remainder of the book.
Key Themes
Outline
- 1-5Introduction to the Land DivisionThe formal process of dividing Canaan among the nine and a half tribes begins under proper leadership and divine guidance.
- 6-12Caleb's Bold RequestEighty-five-year-old Caleb approaches Joshua to claim God's promised inheritance, demonstrating remarkable faith and physical strength.
- 13-15Hebron Granted to CalebJoshua blesses Caleb and grants him Hebron as his inheritance, establishing a lasting legacy of faithful obedience.
Introduction to the Land Division
14:1–14:5Introduction to the formal division of the Promised Land west of the Jordan among nine and a half tribes by lot, overseen by Eleazar the priest and Joshua. The Levites receive cities rather than territorial inheritance, while Joseph's descendants form two tribes.
person_contrast
Joshua's role shifts from military commander to inheritance administrator, marking the transition from conquest to settlement as he oversees the sacred lot system alongside Eleazar the priest.
Caleb's Inheritance
14:6–14:15Caleb requests and receives Hebron as his inheritance, citing his faithful service as a spy and God's promise through Moses. Joshua blesses Caleb and grants him the territory because of his wholehearted devotion to God.
person_contrast
Caleb uniquely claims his inheritance not through tribal birthright but through personal courage, making this the only passage where individual faithfulness directly determines territorial reward.
Joshua 14:1
Joshua 19:51lexicalThese are the inheritances, which Eleazar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers’ houses of the…
Numbers 34:17lexical“These are the names of the men who shall divide the land to you for inheritance: Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son…
Numbers 32:28lexicalSo Moses commanded concerning them to Eleazar the priest, and to Joshua the son of Nun, and to the heads of the fathers’…
Joshua 21:1lexicalThen the heads of fathers’ houses of the Levites came near to Eleazar the priest, and to Joshua the son of Nun, and to t…
Deuteronomy 1:38lexicalJoshua the son of Nun, who stands before you, shall go in there. Encourage him, for he shall cause Israel to inherit it.
Joshua 14:2
Numbers 34:13lexicalMoses commanded the children of Israel, saying, “This is the land which you shall inherit by lot, which the LORD has com…
Joshua 21:6lexicalThe children of Gershon had thirteen cities by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar, out of the tribe of Ash…
Joshua 21:5lexicalThe rest of the children of Kohath had ten cities by lot out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim, out of the tribe o…
Joshua 13:7lexicalNow therefore divide this land for an inheritance to the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh.”
Numbers 36:3lexicalIf they are married to any of the sons of the other tribes of the children of Israel, then their inheritance will be tak…
Joshua 14:3
Numbers 34:15lexicalThe two tribes and the half-tribe have received their inheritance beyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, toward the sunr…
Joshua 18:7lexicalHowever, the Levites have no portion among you; for the priesthood of the LORD is their inheritance. Gad, Reuben, and th…
Joshua 22:11lexicalThe children of Israel heard this, “Behold, the children of Reuben and the children of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasse…
Joshua 20:8lexicalBeyond the Jordan at Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness in the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, Ra…
Joshua 13:8lexicalWith him the Reubenites and the Gadites received their inheritance, which Moses gave them, beyond the Jordan eastward, e…
Joshua 14:4
Joshua 21:27lexicalThey gave to the children of Gershon, of the families of the Levites, out of the half-tribe of Manasseh Golan in Bashan…
Joshua 21:25lexicalOut of the half-tribe of Manasseh, Taanach with its pasture lands, and Gath Rimmon with its pasture lands: two cities.
Joshua 18:7lexicalHowever, the Levites have no portion among you; for the priesthood of the LORD is their inheritance. Gad, Reuben, and th…
Joshua 21:34lexicalTo the families of the children of Merari, the rest of the Levites, out of the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam with its pastur…
Joshua 21:5lexicalThe rest of the children of Kohath had ten cities by lot out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim, out of the tribe o…
Joshua 14:6
Numbers 32:12lexicalexcept Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, and Joshua the son of Nun, because they have followed the LORD complete…
Numbers 14:6lexicalJoshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were of those who spied out the land, tore their clothes.
Numbers 14:30lexicalsurely you shall not come into the land concerning which I swore that I would make you dwell therein, except Caleb the s…
Numbers 26:65lexicalFor the LORD had said of them, “They shall surely die in the wilderness.” There was not a man left of them, except Caleb…
Numbers 14:38lexicalBut Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive of those men who went to spy out the land.
Joshua 14:13
Joshua 15:13lexicalHe gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh a portion among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of the LORD to…
Numbers 14:6lexicalJoshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were of those who spied out the land, tore their clothes.
Numbers 14:30lexicalsurely you shall not come into the land concerning which I swore that I would make you dwell therein, except Caleb the s…
Numbers 14:38lexicalBut Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive of those men who went to spy out the land.
Numbers 26:65lexicalFor the LORD had said of them, “They shall surely die in the wilderness.” There was not a man left of them, except Caleb…
Joshua 14:14
Numbers 32:12lexicalexcept Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, and Joshua the son of Nun, because they have followed the LORD complete…
Deuteronomy 1:36lexicalexcept Caleb the son of Jephunneh. He shall see it. I will give the land that he has trodden on to him and to his childr…
Joshua 15:13lexicalHe gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh a portion among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of the LORD to…
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Historical Context
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