1 And these are the countries which the children H1121 of Israel H3478 inherited H5157 in the land H776 of Canaan, H3667 which Eleazar H499 the priest, H3548 and Joshua H3091 the son H1121 of Nun, H5126 and the heads H7218 of the fathers H1 of the tribes H4294 of the children H1121 of Israel, H3478 distributed for inheritance H5157 to them.
2 By lot H1486 was their inheritance, H5159 as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 by the hand H3027 of Moses, H4872 for the nine H8672 tribes, H4294 and for the half H2677 tribe. H4294
3 For Moses H4872 had given H5414 the inheritance H5159 of two H8147 tribes H4294 and an half H2677 tribe H4294 on the other side H5676 Jordan: H3383 but unto the Levites H3881 he gave H5414 none inheritance H5159 among H8432 them.
4 For the children H1121 of Joseph H3130 were two H8147 tribes, H4294 Manasseh H4519 and Ephraim: H669 therefore they gave H5414 no part H2506 unto the Levites H3881 in the land, H776 save cities H5892 to dwell H3427 in, with their suburbs H4054 for their cattle H4735 and for their substance. H7075
5 As the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses, H4872 so the children H1121 of Israel H3478 did, H6213 and they divided H2505 the land. H776
6 Then the children H1121 of Judah H3063 came H5066 unto Joshua H3091 in Gilgal: H1537 and Caleb H3612 the son H1121 of Jephunneh H3312 the Kenezite H7074 said H559 unto him, Thou knowest H3045 the thing H1697 that the LORD H3068 said H1696 unto Moses H4872 the man H376 of God H430 concerning me H182 and thee H182 in Kadeshbarnea. H6947
7 Forty H705 years H8141 old H1121 was I when Moses H4872 the servant H5650 of the LORD H3068 sent H7971 me from Kadeshbarnea H6947 to espy out H7270 the land; H776 and I brought H7725 him word H1697 again H7725 as it was in mine heart. H3824
8 Nevertheless my brethren H251 that went up H5927 with me made the heart H3820 of the people H5971 melt: H4529 but I wholly H4390 followed H310 the LORD H3068 my God. H430
9 And Moses H4872 sware H7650 on that day, H3117 saying, H559 Surely the land H776 whereon thy feet H7272 have trodden H1869 shall be thine inheritance, H5159 and thy children's H1121 for H5704 ever, H5769 because thou hast wholly H4390 followed H310 the LORD H3068 my God. H430
10 And now, behold, the LORD H3068 hath kept me alive, H2421 as he said, H1696 these forty H705 and five H2568 years, H8141 even since H227 the LORD H3068 spake H1696 this word H1697 unto Moses, H4872 while the children of Israel H3478 wandered H1980 in the wilderness: H4057 and now, lo, I am this day H3117 fourscore H8084 and five H2568 years H8141 old. H1121
11 As yet I am as strong H2389 this day H3117 as I was in the day H3117 that Moses H4872 sent H7971 me: as my strength H3581 was then, even so is my strength H3581 now, for war, H4421 both to go out, H3318 and to come in. H935
12 Now therefore give H5414 me this mountain, H2022 whereof the LORD H3068 spake H1696 in that day; H3117 for thou heardest H8085 in that day H3117 how the Anakims H6062 were there, and that the cities H5892 were great H1419 and fenced: H1219 if so be H194 the LORD H3068 will be with H854 me, then I shall be able to drive them out, H3423 as the LORD H3068 said. H1696
13 And Joshua H3091 blessed H1288 him, and gave H5414 unto Caleb H3612 the son H1121 of Jephunneh H3312 Hebron H2275 for an inheritance. H5159
14 Hebron H2275 therefore became the inheritance H5159 of Caleb H3612 the son H1121 of Jephunneh H3312 the Kenezite H7074 unto this day, H3117 because that he wholly H4390 followed H310 the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel. H3478
15 And the name H8034 of Hebron H2275 before H6440 was Kirjatharba; H7153 which Arba was a great H1419 man H120 among the Anakims. H6062 And the land H776 had rest H8252 from war. H4421
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Joshua 14
Commentary on Joshua 14 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 14
Jos 14:1-5. The Nine Tribes and a Half to Have Their Inheritance by Lot.
1. these are the countries which the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan—This chapter forms the introduction to an account of the allocation of the land west of Jordan, or Canaan proper, to the nine tribes and a half. It was also made by lot in presence of a select number of superintendents, appointed according to divine directions given to Moses (see on Nu 34:16). In everything pertaining to civil government, and even the division of the land, Joshua was the acknowledged chief. But in a matter to be determined by lot, a solemn appeal was made to God, and hence Eleazar, as high priest, is named before Joshua.
4. The children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim—As two and a half tribes were settled on the east Jordan, and the Levites had no inheritance assigned them in land, there would have been only eight and a half tribes to provide for. But Ephraim and Manasseh, the two sons of Joseph, had been constituted two tribes (Ge 48:5), and although Levi was excluded, the original number of the tribes of Israel was still preserved.
5. the children of Israel … divided the land—that is, they made the preliminary arrangements for the work. A considerable time was requisite for the survey and measurement.
Jos 14:6-15. Caleb by Privilege Requests and Obtains Hebron.
6-11. Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb … said—This incident is recorded here because it occurred while the preparations were being made for casting the lots, which, it appears, were begun in Gilgal. The claim of Caleb to the mountains of Hebron as his personal and family possessions was founded on a solemn promise of Moses, forty-five years before (Nu 14:24; De 1:36; Jos 14:10), to give him that land on account of his fidelity. Being one of the nominees appointed to preside over the division of the country, he might have been charged with using his powers as a commissioner to his own advantage, had he urged his request in private; and therefore he took some of his brethren along with him as witness of the justice and propriety of his conduct.
12. give me this mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day—this highland region.
for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there—The report of the spies, who tried to kindle the flame of sedition and discontent, related chiefly to the people and condition of this mountain district, and hence it was promised as the reward of Caleb's truth, piety, and faithfulness.
13, 14. Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb Hebron for an inheritance—Joshua, who was fully cognizant of all the circumstances, not only admitted the claim, but in a public and earnest manner prayed for the divine blessing to succor the efforts of Caleb in driving out the idolatrous occupiers.
15. Kirjath-arba—that is, the city of Arba, a warrior among the native race remarkable for strength and stature.
the land had rest from war—Most of the kings having been slain and the natives dispirited, there was no general or systematic attempt to resist the progress and settlement of the Israelites.