Commentary on the Old Testament Volume 2-4, Biblical commentary 1 · Joshua · Chapter 14
CHAP. XIV.
HEre Ioshua proceedeth to declare, how the Land of Canaan was divided to the 9 Tribes and halfe, saying, These are the Countreys which the children V. 1.of Israel inherited in the Land of Canaan, &c. but by and by speaking something that was necessary for preparation to this division, as who were the dividers, and how there could be 9 Tribes and an halfe, when as two and an halfe had received their parts on the other side Iordan, and there were but 12 in all, and the Tribe of Levi had no part; viz. by saying, that the children of Ioseph were two Tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim, v. 14. After this hee interrupteth the course of his History, till the 15 Chap. by telling of Caleb, how he came in for Hebron, and then prosecuteth this History of the Division againe, Ch. 15. The first words then, These are the Countreys, &c. are to be understood of the Countreys, the Division whereof followeth, Ch. 15. and all that followeth in this Chapter, as comming in by a Parenthesis. Wherefore Bonfrerius is in an errour, Bonfrerius.in taking them to be spoken of the Countreys divided to the two Tribes and an halfe, Ch. 13. as an Epilogue of all that is said there. And Lyra and Calvin are rather to be followed, who referre them to the Division following, as I have here done. Whereas Eleazar the High Priest is joyned with Joshua, and the Princes in dividing the Land, this was done, as God had appointed, Numb. 34. 37. and as here, so there Eleazar is named before Joshua. Touching the reason rendred, v. 4. why the tribe of Levi had no part; For the sonnes of Joseph were two Tribes; the Vulgar Latine hath, in eorum locum successerunt filii Joseph in duas tribus divisi, and is therefore excepted against by Masius; but the Masius.meaning is nothing else but that these two Tribes comming of Joseph, made up the number of 12, although Levi were left out in the partition, and amongst 12 and no more, all must be divided, therefore Levi could have no part, seeing Manasseh and Ephraim, the two sonnes of Joseph were expresly constituted two Lyra.Tribes by Jacob, Gen. 48. so Lyranus. Calvin moveth a question touching the men appointed to divide the Land, seeing the division was to bee made by lot, Calvin.how they could be said to divide it? and answereth, that when the lot had assigned the Countrey to each Tribe, where it should be, these men were to consider the number of people in the Tribe, if the part falling to any were too little, to inlarge it, if too great, to take some away, and to give it to another that wanted, see Numb. 26. 52.
Then came the children of Judah to Joshua in Gilgal; and Caleb the sonne of Jephunneh V. 6.the Kenezite said to him, Thou knowest the thing that the Lord said to Moses, &c. Here, before the division amongst the Tribes made by lot, Joshua breaketh off the course of that History a while, and telleth first of Calebs comming, and the men of Judah in his behalfe, to require Hebron, as Moses had long agoe promised unto him. This promise is not any where so particularly set forth, but Numb. 14. 24. it is said by the Lord in generall, Him will I bring into the Land whereinto hee went, and his seed shall possesse it: and Deut. 1. 36. Lyra following Lyra.the Hebrews, that are ready to vent their owne imaginations, saith, that Caleb being in Canaan with the other searchers, perceived that they would disswade the people from attempting the conquest of that Land, went alone into Hebron, and prayed that God would strengthen his heart, that he might not consent with them in that wickednesse, wherefore at his returne, hee constantly cleaving to the Lord, Moses sware unto him that it should bee his inheritance. But it is more probable, that Hebron being a place of note for the Gyants inhabiting there, by the sight of whom the other searchers were terrified, but Caleb trusting in God, doubted not but to prevaile against them; Moses hereupon sware to him in private, no more bcing present to heare it but Joshua, that hee should have it for a possession: and therefore he saith to Joshua, Thou knowest what the Lord said to Moses concerning me and thee in Kadesh barnea. And v. 9. Moses sware on that day, Surely the Land whereon thy feet have troden shall be thine inheritance and thy childrens for ever; expressing doubtlesse this Hebron to be the land in particular, being famous for the buriall of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob there. Gen. 23. 19.And now Caleb and the men of Judah come with him to desire the performance of this promise, not out of ambition, as Ferus noteth, but that the truth of Ferus.God in his promises might the more notably appeare, that others might bee incouraged constantly to follow the Lord, as Caleb had done. For two things he declareth here, had been promised unto him; the one, that hee should live, and come into the promised Land, all others from 20 yeares old and upward being cut off before that time for their rebellion; the other, that he should have Hebron for an inheritance. The first, he sheweth, was abundantly performed, for he did not onelyonly live, but being now 85 yeares old, was as able to goe to Warre as at 40, which availed not a little to Gods glory. The other he now desireth to have performed unto him, that God might appeare to bee true in every thing. And to shew his ability still for the Warre, and that hee had yet the same confidence in God to overcome the mightiest Gyants, he saith, v. 12. Thou heardest in that day, that the sonnes of Anak were there: if so bee the Lord will bee with me, then I shall bee able to drive them out. And this hee is shewed to have done, Ch. 15. 14. for although the Anakims that held it before, were cut off by Joshua, Ch. 11. 21. yet others remained in the mountaines hitherto unexpelled or came thither againe out of the Philistims Countrey, wherein onelyonly it is said that some of them were Ch. 11. 22. Touching the name of Caleb, the sonne of Iephunneh the Kenezite: Iephone, saith Lyra, some expound divertens, holding it Calvin.to bee an Appellative, and not a proper name; and that hee was so called, because hee turned himselfe from the evill counsell of the other searchers; some prudent, and seeing, from foreign; but Jephunneh certainly was the proper name of Calebs father, 1 Chron. 4. 15. Indeed hee is not mentioned, 1 Chron. 2. 9. where Chelubai, which probably was this Caleb, is numbred amongst the immediate sonnes of Hezron, the sonne of Pharez, the sonne of Judah. But Caleb by the very name used, is mentioned both v. 18. and v. 42. here he is said to be the brother of Jerhameel, who is said to bee the first borne of Ezron, v. 25. and this Chaleb is said to have had a daughter called Achsah, v. 49. of which daughter of this Caleb in question, see Josh. 15. 16. Of Caleb the sonne of Jephunneh yet we read not, till 1 Chron. 4. 15. which maketh it questionable, whether there were not more Calebs; and touching this man, the sonne of Jephunneh, whether hee came of Hezron, or no; although Lyra saith, that it is constantly to be held that he came of Hezron, who had also another name, Jephunneh. But because Calebs age doth not agree, this must be left as uncertain, yet not so much for that, as for the name Jephunneh, because Pharez being very young when they came into Egypt, might beget Hezron 80 yeares after, and he at 80 might beget Caleb, unto which Calebs age of 40 at the going out of Egypt being added all together, make 200 yeares. Moreover, why Caleb is called the Kenezite, is a great question, but Lyra also resolveth it, according to the Hebrews, thus; Jephunneh being dead, the mother of Caleb, his widow, maried with Kenez, from whom, because he brought him up, he was thus called. Some thinke that Kenez was the father of Jephunneh, and so one brother of his was properly thus called, Josh. 15. 17. Some that he was so called from some Bonfrerius. Calvin.exploit that he did. But nothing can herein be said certainly.
And Joshua blessed Caleb, and gave him Hebron, &c. Hee blessed, both by V. 13.publishing his deserved praises; and as a man of God, praying for his good successe in attempting to take this place againe, and to expell the Anakims thence. But because Hebron was one of the Cities given to the Levites, Josh. 21. Qu. 11, 13. it may be demanded, how Caleb had it to him and his for a possession? They had onelyonly the houses to inhabit in, and the Suburbs, but hee all the lands Josh. 21. 12.about; his goodnesse in this appearing, that when he had obtained it, as a singular reward of his faith and prowesse, yet he was content to give part back againe to the Priests, and to be a City of refuge, Ch. 20. 7.
And the name of Hebron before was Kiriath-arba, who was a great man amongst V. 15.the Anakims. Kiriath-arba, signifieth the City of Arba, the father of Anak, Ch. 15. 13. The Vulgar Latine for these words, who was a great man, hath Adam maximus inter Anakim ihi situs est. Whereupon many have held it to be called Kiriath-arbah, for the buriall of foure there, Adam, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; but this is a most erroneous reading, as the Jesuites themselves acknowledg; but of this conceit it see more, Gen. 23. 2. And the Land rested from Warre: this is repeated againe, from Ch. 11. 23. to shew, that they might now freely goe about this division of the land, because the enemies were now quiet, and none durst make head against them, to interrupt them herein.
Mystically, saith Origen, by Caleb, who had a possession given him before all The Mysterie. Origen.others, understand the heart, for Caleb signifieth, as the heart: and Jephunneh, whose sonne he is said to be, converting himself, the heart then turned from evill to good, shall surely have a possession in the heavenly Canaan, and bee blessed.