Bible Commentaries
Joshua 14

Verse 1

And these [are the countries] which the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed for inheritance to them.

And these are the countries. — These that are expressed in this and the five following chapters.

Which Eleazar the priest. — Who was a type of Christ, by whom we have entrance into the heavenly Canaan, and the fourth from Levi; and so that prophecy was fulfilled, Genesis 15:16 .

Verse 2

By lot [was] their inheritance, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes, and [for] the half tribe.

By lot was their inheritance. — To prevent all murmurings and discontents, since it was the Lord that cut them out their several conditions; who, as he is Lord of all, and may do with his own as he pleaseth, so he is the only wise God, who doth all things well -

“ Pondere, mensura, numero facit omnia. ”

See Proverbs 16:33 ; Proverbs 18:18 . See Trapp on " Proverbs 16:33 " See Trapp on " Proverbs 18:18 "

Verse 3

For Moses had given the inheritance of two tribes and an half tribe on the other side Jordan: but unto the Levites he gave none inheritance among them.

But unto the Levites. — See Joshua 13:14 .

Verse 4

For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim: therefore they gave no part unto the Levites in the land, save cities to dwell [in], with their suburbs for their cattle and for their substance.

For the children of Joseph were two tribes. — And so both Joseph had a double portion, the privilege of the firstborn which Reuben had forefeited, 1 Chronicles 5:1 and the number of twelve tribes was made up, notwithstanding the Levites were not reckoned. The Papists, to make up the number of ten commandments, when they have cashiered the second, as making utterly against their image worship, divide the last into two; so loath are heretics to have their asses’ ears seen. But Paul, who knew better than any of them the analysis of the law, calleth that last "the commandment," not commandments. Romans 7:7

Verse 5

As the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did, and they divided the land.

As the Lord commanded Moses. — To see that the Levites had their lands as well as other incomes, Numbers 35:2 and that no man else should challenge any propriety in them. Leviticus 25:32-34

Verse 6

Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the LORD said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea.

Then the children of Judah, — i.e., The chief of them came, as advocates for Caleb, who was a man of great eminency in their tribe.

And Caleb the son of Jephunneh. — To distinguish him from Caleb the son of Hezron. 1 Chronicles 2:18

Thou knowest the thing. — What prerogative the Lord promised us for a reward of our constancy. God is a liberal paymaster, and sendeth no man away with cause to complain of a hard bargain.

Verse 7

Forty years old [was] I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as [it was] in mine heart.

As it was in my heart. — Sincerely, and without dissimulation; he was all heart, or, as heart, so his name Caleb signifieth, Egregie cordatus homo. One of the disciples was called Lebbaemus, or hearty; and Hooper the martyr was called for like cause Hearty Hooper. His nephew Nabal was none such, but churlish and evil in his doings: yet he was of the house of Caleb, 1 Samuel 25:3 but as little like him as young Cicero was his worthy father; or as wise Socrates’s children, who took after the mother altogether, as Seneca testifieth.

Verse 8

Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.

But I wholly followed the Lord my God. — Heb., I fulfilled after the Lord. A metaphor taken from a ship under sail carried strongly with the wind, as if it feared neither rocks nor sands. Thus he commendeth himself, that none might tax him of injustice or ambition, for that which he was now about to require of Joshua.

Verse 9

And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the LORD my God.

Whereon thy feet have trodden. — And whereon thy faith hath triumphed.

Because thou hast wholly followed. — See Joshua 14:8 , and take notice that God’s retributions are more than bountiful.

Verse 10

And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while [the children of] Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I [am] this day fourscore and five years old.

And now, behold, the Lord both kept me alive. — Which mercy was therefore the greater, because of these many thousands of others whose carcasses had fallen in the wilderness. How oft have the arrows of death come whisking by us, and yet we are alive!

Wandered in the wilderness. — By God’s command to and fro, backward and forward, as if they had been treading a maze.

I am this day fourscore and five years old. — Whereby it appeareth that they were near upon seven years in conquering of Canaan. Difficilia quae pulchra.

Verse 11

As yet I [am as] strong this day as [I was] in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength [was] then, even so [is] my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.

As yet I am strong this day. — Viridis et vegeta senectus singulare Dei donum est Deuteronomy 34:7 Mr Dod, as he was another Moses for meekness, so for health of body in extreme old age; a mercy that he much valued. Deficere potius quam desinere visus est.

Verse 12

Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims [were] there, and [that] the cities [were] great [and] fenced: if so be the LORD [will be] with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.

Now therefore give me this mountain, — i.e., This mountainous territory about Hebron, extraordinarily and without lot. That was a Lucifer like monk who said when he died, Redde mihi aeternam vitam quam debes: and another proud Papist blusheth not to say in print, Caelum gratis non accipiam; I will not have heaven of free gift.

If so be the Lord will be with me. — This he speaketh not out of distrust, but self-denial; and to imply a difficulty, which yet doth but whet on heroic spirits.

Verse 13

And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.

And Joshua blessed him. — He approved of his petition: he did not blame him for being too hasty, nor bid him stay till himself were first served; but granted him Hebron, helped him to gain it, Joshua 10:37 and wished him much joy of it. Some think that Caleb afterwards yielded up Hebron to the Levites, and the rest of the tribes did the like, as glad of their company, by whom they might learn the ways of holiness, that lead to happiness.

Verse 14

Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the LORD God of Israel.

Because that he wholly, … — See Joshua 14:8 ; Joshua 14:12 .

Verse 15

And the name of Hebron before [was] Kirjatharba; [which Arba was] a great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from war.

Was a great man. — Both for his person and power; but there is a double greatness: (1.) Belluine; (2.) Genuine. In that, a beast may and doth exceed us. In this, we exceed ourselves and others.

And the land had rest from war. — It had at last, bello confecto. See Joshua 10:23 , from whence hitherto, is a digression.