Joshua 14

King James Version

Full text for Joshua Chapter 14

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.

2By lot [was] their inheritance, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes, and [for] the half tribe.

3For 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.

4For 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.

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

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.

7Forty 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.

8Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the LORD my God.

9And 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.

10And 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.

11As 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.

12Now 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.

13And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.

14Hebron 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.

15And the name of Hebron before [was] Kirjatharba; [which Arba was] a great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from war.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Joshua 14 details the commencement of land distribution in Canaan by lot, overseen by Eleazar, Joshua, and tribal leaders, with the Levites receiving no territorial inheritance. Caleb, an eighty-five-year-old faithful spy, approaches Joshua, recalling Moses' promise to him for his unwavering loyalty to the Lord. Caleb requests and receives Hebron, a stronghold of the Anakims, trusting in God's help to conquer it, thus securing his promised inheritance.

Medium Summary

Joshua 14 begins by describing the systematic distribution of the land of Canaan to the children of Israel by lot, under the direction of Eleazar the priest, Joshua, and the heads of the tribes. It reiterates that two and a half tribes had already received their inheritance east of the Jordan, and that the Levites were not allotted a tribal portion of land, but rather cities with their suburbs. The chapter then focuses on Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, who, at eighty-five years old, approaches Joshua in Gilgal. Caleb reminds Joshua of the promise made by Moses at Kadeshbarnea, forty-five years prior, when Caleb, then forty, faithfully reported on the land while others caused the people's hearts to melt. Asserting his continued strength for warfare, Caleb requests the mountainous region of Hebron, known to be inhabited by the formidable Anakims and fortified cities. Trusting that the Lord would be with him, Caleb expresses confidence in his ability to drive them out. Joshua blesses Caleb and grants him Hebron as an inheritance, acknowledging his complete devotion to the Lord God of Israel. The chapter concludes by noting Hebron's former name and that the land experienced rest from war.

Long Summary

Joshua 14 commences by detailing the formal process of land inheritance for the children of Israel within the land of Canaan. The distribution was conducted by lot, as commanded by the Lord through Moses, and was overseen by Eleazar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the tribal fathers. It is specified that this division was for the nine and a half tribes, as two and a half tribes had already received their inheritance on the other side of the Jordan. Furthermore, the chapter clarifies that the Levites were not given any territorial inheritance among the tribes, but instead received cities to dwell in, along with their suburbs for their livestock and possessions, fulfilling the Lord's command. The children of Joseph are noted as comprising two distinct tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim, which accounts for the distribution to ten tribes in Canaan. The narrative then shifts to a significant personal appeal made by Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, who approaches Joshua in Gilgal. Caleb, now eighty-five years old, recounts the events at Kadeshbarnea forty-five years prior, reminding Joshua of the Lord's promise concerning them both. He recalls being sent by Moses at the age of forty to spy out the land, and how he brought back a faithful report, unlike his brethren who caused the people's hearts to melt. Caleb emphasizes that he "wholly followed the LORD my God," leading Moses to swear that the land he trod upon would be his and his children's inheritance forever. Despite his advanced age, Caleb declares that his strength for war remains undiminished, just as it was when Moses sent him. He then boldly requests the mountainous region of Hebron, acknowledging that it was inhabited by the Anakims and contained great, fenced cities. Caleb expresses unwavering faith, stating, "if so be the LORD [will be] with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said." In response, Joshua blesses Caleb and grants him Hebron as his inheritance. The chapter concludes by affirming that Hebron became Caleb's inheritance because he consistently and completely followed the Lord God of Israel, and notes that the land subsequently had rest from war.

Core Concepts

  • Land Distribution by LotThe method by which the land of Canaan was divided among the Israelite tribes, ensuring fairness and divine guidance as commanded by the Lord through Moses.
  • Levitical InheritanceThe unique provision for the tribe of Levi, who received no tribal land inheritance but were instead allotted cities to dwell in with their suburbs, distinguishing their role from other tribes.
  • Caleb's FaithfulnessCaleb's unwavering loyalty and complete devotion to the Lord God of Israel, demonstrated by his faithful report as a spy and his continued trust in God's power despite formidable challenges.
  • Moses' Promise to CalebThe divine oath made by Moses to Caleb at Kadeshbarnea, assuring him that the land he had trodden upon would be his inheritance due to his wholehearted following of the Lord.
  • Strength in Old AgeCaleb's remarkable physical and spiritual vitality at eighty-five years old, affirming his readiness for war and his capacity to conquer formidable foes like the Anakims, attributing his strength to the Lord.
  • Conquest of HebronCaleb's specific request for and subsequent inheritance of Hebron, a stronghold of the Anakims, symbolizing his personal challenge and the ongoing process of dispossessing the inhabitants of the promised land.
  • Rest from WarThe concluding statement indicating a period of peace in the land after the initial stages of conquest and distribution, signifying a partial fulfillment of God's promises.