Annotations Upon the Historical Books Part 2, Joshua · Chapter 14
CHAP. XIIII.
Verſ. 1. WHich Eleazar the Priest, and Joſhua the ſonne of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Iſrael diſtributed for inheritance unto them.] Who were choſen by the Lord, and expreſſed by name, Num. 34.17. See the note upon that place.
Verſ. 2. By lot was their inheritance, &c.] For the manner how this was done, ſee the note upon Num. 26.55. OnelyOnly the place where they ſhould have their portion was divided by lot, and afterward the quantitie of their ſeverall portions was laid out by Joſhua, Eleazar, and the heads of the tribes, according as the tribe was more or fewer in number; the firſt being done by caſting of lots to prevent all murmurings and diſcontents, and to make it the more evident that the propheſies both of Jacob and Moſes concerning the ſeverall inheritances of the tribes were from God.
Verſ. 4. For the children of Joſeph were two tribes, &c.] This is added to ſhew how there were ſtill nine tribes and an half remaining (amongſt whom the land was to be divided) notwithſtanding the Levites were not reckoned amongſt them. See alſo the note, Gen 48.5.
Verſ. 6. Then the children of Judah came unto Joſhua in Gilgal; and Caleb, &c.] It is evident by this place, that they began the diviſion of Canaan in Gilgal, though they finiſhed it afterwards in Shiloh, chap. 18.1, 6. and that becauſe the Tabernacle was at preſent in Gilgal, and it was fit this work ſhould be done in the preſence of God, both that it might be done the more reverently and religiouſly, and that hereby they might be put in mind, that it was the Lord their God that would reach forth unto each tribe the lot which he had aſſigned for their portion. Now when they were met together about this great buſineſſe, it is ſaid here, that Caleb (who is called the ſonne of Jephunneh, the Kenezite: becauſe he was deſcended from Kenaz of the tribe of Judah, 1. Chron. 4.13, 15. and to diſtinguiſh him from another Caleb, who was the ſonne of Hezron, 1. Chron. 2.18.) came to Joſhua to demand that portion of the land by way of ſpeciall priviledge, which God had long ſince promiſed him; and becauſe many of his tribe, that is, of the chief men of his tribe went along with him, to wit, to countenance him, and to further him in his ſuit; both in regard that Caleb was a man of great eminency in their tribe, and alſo that the whole tribe were to be in ſome ſort gainers by this extraordinary portion conferred upon him, therefore it is ſaid in the firſt place, that the children of Judah came unto Joſhua; and then afterwards, that Caleb, attended thus with the chief elders of Judah, propounded to Joſhua the buſineſſe about which they came.
Thou knoweſt the thing that the Lord ſaid unto Moſes the man of God, concerning me and thee, in Kadeſh-barnea.] It is much queſtioned by Expoſitours, what the thing is that the Lord ſaid unto Moſes concerning Caleb and Ioſhua, which Caleb here means. Some hold that ſo far as it concerns Caleb, it is meant of that particular promiſe, which afterwards he doth plainly expreſſe, verſ. 9. to wit, that Hebron and the land adjoyning ſhould be his inheritance: and for Ioſhua, they ſay it is meant of ſome ſuch like particular promiſe that was then alſo made to him, though it be not expreſſed in the ſtory, as happely, that he ſhould ſucceed Moſes in the government of Iſrael, or that he ſhould chuſe what city or portion in the land he pleaſed, to be his peculiar inheritance: and this they judge the more probable, Firſt, becauſe it is not likely but that he dealing faithfully in the anſwer they returned concerning the land which they had ſearched, as well as Caleb, the Lord alſo rewarded him by ſome ſpeciall promiſe as well as Caleb: and, Secondly, becauſe it is expreſſely ſaid chap. 19.50. that according to the word of the Lord, they gave him the citie which he asked, even Timnath-ſerah in mount Ephraim. Again, others hold that the thing here meant that the Lord ſaid to Moſes, both concerning Caleb and Ioſhua, is that mentioned Num. 14.30. Doubtleſſe ye ſhall not come into the land concerning which I ſware to make you dwell therein, ſave Caleb the ſonne of Jephunneh, and Joſhua the ſonne of Nun. But all things conſidered, I conceive it moſt probable, that Caleb ſpake this indefinitely, of every thing which the Lord had ſpoken to Moſes concerning Ioſhua and Caleb, to wit, that he doubted not but Ioſhua knew well what God had ſaid to Moſes in Kadeſh-barnea concerning them both, when they returned thither from ſearching the land; and ſo by affirming this in generall, he makes way to the propounding of that particular promiſe, verſ. 9. which God had made to him, that Hebron and the countrey adjoyning ſhould be his inheritance, concerning which it was neceſſary that he ſhould appeal to Joſhuas knowledge, becauſe there were none elſe now living that could be witneſſes of it, and in propounding this introduction to that which he had further to ſay, he calls Moſes the man of God, that what God had promiſed by Moſes his ſpeciall ſervant might be the more regarded by them, Thou knoweſt, ſaith he, the thing that the Lord ſaid unto Moſes the man of God concerning thee and me in Kadeſh-barnea.
Verſ. 7. Fourtie yeares old was I when Moſes the ſervant of the Lord ſent me from Kadeſh-barnea.] See the note, chap. 11.18.
And I brought him word again as it was in mine heart.] That is, I told him truly what I thought of the land, and of our going to poſſeſſe it, nor did either for fear or favour of any man ſpeak one word otherwiſe then as in my conſcience I thought. I did not ſay as the other ſpies ſaid, to pleaſe them, nor did I on the other ſide encourage the people to enter upon the land, thereby to currie favour either with Moſes or the people, but I did it ſincerely, becauſe I did indeed verily believe, that God would certainly deliver it into our hands. Nor can this be counted any blemiſh to Caleb that he thus ſpeaks in his own commendation; That his brethren might not tax him either of injuſtice or ambition, for that which he was now about to require of Joſhua, it was fit he ſhould ſhew upon what juſt grounds it was at firſt promiſed him.
Verſ. 8. My brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the Lord my God.] To wit, by perſwading the people to enter the land which the Lord had brought them to, even when the reſt of the ſpies did ſo exceedingly diſcourage them; which was a ſingular proof of the uprightneſſe of Calebs heart towards God.
Verſ. 9. And Moſes ſware on that day, ſaying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have troden, ſhall be thine inheritance, &c.] Hereby it is evident, that there was a particular promiſe made unto Caleb at Kadeſh-Barnea, that Hebron and the land adjoyning ſhould be his, when the Iſraelites came to poſſeſſe Canaan, and that this place in the land was given him rather then any other, becauſe when the ſpies had ſeen thoſe giants, the Anakims, and were ſtricken with fear, when they ſaw them there, Numb. 13.22. And they aſcended by the ſouth, and came unto Hebron, where Ahiman, Sheſhai, and Talmai, the children of Anak were, and yet Caleb afterward oppoſed theſe his fainthearted brethren, and when they objected the invincible ſtrength of the place and people, he encouraged his people, and aſſured them that they ſhould eaſily vanquiſh them; either therefore thoſe places in Moſes his ſtory concerning Caleb muſt be underſtood of this particular gift, though at firſt reading they would not ſeem to import ſo much, Numb. 14.24. But my ſervant Caleb, becauſe he had another ſpirit with him (and hath followed me fully) him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his ſeed ſhall poſſeſſe it. And again, Deut. 1.36. Save Caleb the ſonne of Jephunneh, he ſhall ſee it, and to him will I give the land that he hath troden upon, and to his children, becauſe he hath wholly followed the Lord; or elſe, there was ſome particular promiſe made to him concerning this inheritance, together with that mentioned in thoſe places forenamed, though it be not expreſſed, and that confirmed with an oath, pronounced by Moſes in the name of the Lord. For ſo we reade it, Num. 14.21, 23, 24. But as truly as I live, all the earth ſhall be filled with the glory of the Lord, &c. Surely they ſhall not ſee the land which I ſware unto their fathers, neither ſhall any of them that provoked me ſee it. But my ſervant Caleb, becauſe he had another ſpirit with him (and hath followed me fully) him will I bring into the land whereinto he went, and his ſeed ſhall poſſeſſe it.
Verſ. 10. And now behold, the Lord hath kept me alive, as he ſaid, theſe fourty and five years, &c.] As if he ſhould have ſaid, God hath you ſee even miraculouſly preſerved my life and ſtrength, and ſo reſerved me as it were to enjoy this portion of land, which was then promiſed me.
Verſ. 11. As my strength was then, even ſo is my ſtrength now, for warre, both to go out and come in.] See the note upon Numb. 27.17.
Verſ. 12. Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day.] That is, the mountainous countrey promiſed him by Moſes, wherein Hebron, Debir, and ſome other towns ſtood. See chap. 11.21.
For thou heardeſt in that day that the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced.] This he may ſpeak as intimating that ſeeing he himſelf would undertake the expelling of the giants that dwelt there, though the moſt formidable in all the land of Canaan, his deſire was the more reaſonable, becauſe he was to get with ſo much danger and difficulty the place that he deſired of them. But I rather conceive that this is added, to clear it that this was the place promiſed him, to wit, becauſe it was the place where the Anakims dwelt, whoſe huge bodies and great fenced cities were formerly ſo dreadfull to the other ſpies that went with him.
If ſo be the Lord will be with me, then I ſhall be able to drive them out, as the Lord ſaid.] This he ſaith, not as doubting Gods faithfulneſſe and aſſiſtance, but as thereby implying the difficulty of the work: but that he repoſed himſelf on the help and aſſiſtance of God, ſee the note chap. 11.24.
Verſ. 13. And Joſhua bleſſed him, and gave unto Caleb the ſonne of Jephunneh, Hebron for an inheritance.] That is, he commended him, approved his motion, granted his requeſt, and deſired God to bleſſe it both to him and his. How this is ſaid to be Calebs inheritance that was afterwards given to the Levites, ſee chap. 21.11.
Verſ. 15. And the land had reſt from warre.] We have this clauſe before, chap. 11.23. Here it is repeated again, 1. to intimate, That though the foregoing paſſage concerning Calebs deſiring Hebron be here inſerted, yet it was done before Joſhua had ended his warres, and that however all the victories of Joſhua be recorded in the tenth and eleventh chapters, becauſe he would joyn them altogether, yet many of theſe things hereafter expreſſed were done before the warres were ended: and ſecondly, To make way hereby to the relation of that which was further done concerning the diviſion of the land, which was not till the land had reſt.