Joshua Chapter 14 — Caleb's Inheritance
Joshua and the leaders begin distributing the land of Canaan by lot, and Caleb receives Hebron as a special inheritance for his lifelong faithfulness.
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.
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.
WEB Translation
Notable Verses
Joshua 14:10
““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.”
This verse highlights Caleb's long-term preservation and the fulfillment of God's word over several decades.
Joshua 14:12
“Now 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.””
It demonstrates Caleb's continued courage and reliance on God's presence even in his old age.
Joshua 14:14
“Therefore 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.”
It summarizes the reason for Caleb's reward and serves as a testament to the value of wholehearted devotion.
Chapter Summary
Joshua Chapter 14 details the process of allocating land west of the Jordan River to the nine and a half tribes of Israel. The distribution is overseen by Eleazar the priest, Joshua, and the tribal leaders using the method of casting lots as commanded by Moses. During this process, Caleb, representing the tribe of Judah, approaches Joshua to claim a specific promise made by Moses forty-five years earlier. Caleb recalls his faithful service as a spy at Kadesh Barnea and notes that, despite being eighty-five years old, he remains as strong as ever. He requests the hill country of Hebron, even though it is inhabited by the formidable Anakim and secured by fortified cities. Recognizing Caleb’s unwavering devotion to the Lord, Joshua blesses him and grants him Hebron. This chapter highlights the transition from conquest to settlement and concludes by noting that the land finally had rest from war.
Frequently Asked Questions
Caleb received Hebron because he followed the Lord wholeheartedly when he was sent as a spy to Kadesh Barnea. Moses had promised him that the land he walked upon would be his inheritance because of his faithfulness and positive report.
Caleb was eighty-five years old when he spoke to Joshua. He mentioned that he was forty years old when Moses first sent him to spy out the land and that forty-five years had passed while Israel walked in the wilderness.
The distribution was led by Eleazar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers’ houses of the tribes of Israel. They assigned the land by lot, following the instructions the Lord gave through Moses.
Study Note
The name Hebron was previously known as Kiriath Arba, named after Arba, who was described as the greatest man among the Anakim giants.
Related Chapters
Numbers 13
This chapter records the original mission of the spies, including Caleb, to explore the land of Canaan.
Numbers 14
This chapter describes the Israelites' reaction to the spies' report and Moses' specific promise to Caleb.
Joshua 15
The following chapter continues the detailed description of the territory assigned to the tribe of Judah.
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