BIBLE STUDY LESSON 14
CALEB HONOURED
A SUMMARY OF THE DIVISION OF THE LAND
From Joshua 14:1-5
Thus the lands conquered by Israel were distributed to the tribes of Israel. The decision as to which tribe should get a certain part of the land was made by Eleazar the priest, Joshua and the leaders of the tribes. Actually, they didn’t make the decision themselves, but asked the Lord to decide and used the method of casting lots to discover what He wanted. Moses had already given the land east of the Jordan River to the two and a half tribes mentioned earlier. Joseph’s tribe had divided into the two half-tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. The Levites received no land at all, except the cities where they lived and the surrounding pasturelands for their herds and flocks. The people of Israel divided the land exactly as the Lord had told Moses they should.
CALEB’S INHERITANCE
From Joshua 14:6-15
One day Caleb brought a group from the tribe of Judah to see Joshua at Gilgal. Caleb, who was a son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, spoke to Joshua. ‘I want to remind you of the Lord’s promise to you and me at Kadesh-barnea,’ said Caleb. ‘At that time when Moses, the Lord’s servant, sent me to spy out the land, I was forty years old. The report I brought back was what I sincerely believed to be true, but our fellow spies brought back a report that frightened the people of Israel. You know that I followed the Lord completely that day. ‘Moses swore that the land where I had walked would be an inheritance for me and my children forever, for I followed the Lord completely. The Lord has permitted me to live another forty-five years since then, during the time Israel travelled throughout the wilderness. Today, at eighty-five, I am as strong as I was then and can travel or fight as well as I could when Moses sent me on that trip.’ ‘I have come to claim the hill country which the Lord promised at that time. You have heard that the Anakim live there in great fortified cities. But the Lord will go with me and help me drive them out.’ Joshua blessed Caleb and gave Hebron to him. Thus Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, for he had followed the Lord. Until that time, Hebron had been named Kiriath-arba. Arba was one of the great men among the Anakim. At last the time had come when the land was free from war.
COMMENTS
THE CANAANITE PRINCE AND HIS COURT
Forty-five years earlier Moses sent twelve men, including Caleb and Joshua, to explore the Promised Land. Caleb and Joshua urged the people to fight for the land. The others discouraged Israel from doing so and caused the people of Israel to turn back in fear. All but Caleb and Joshua were now dead. Caleb had wholly followed the Lord and now he had come to claim his inheritance at Hebron. The lifestyle of the Canaanite princes must have seemed very curious to the Israelites. It was completely different from life in the tribes. An Israelite leader was selected by all the tribes. But the people of Canaan did not choose their ruler. A prince came to power by inheriting the throne, marrying a princess or by overthrowing the rightful ruler by force. Many only carried out the work for a more powerful authority, like Egypt. Every Canaanite prince claimed that the gods had chosen him to rule. Leaders of the Israelites were anointed; marked by having special oil put on their heads. They wore clothes not very different from everyone else. In Canaan, princes were rarely anointed to show leadership. Instead, crown, staffs and rich thrones were symbols of their authority. They even had portable thrones to carry on long trips and into battle. Each Israelite tribe had a leader, who lived the same way everyone did. But most of the people of Canaan lived in walled cities, each one ruled by a prince as his kingdom. There were many in his court to serve him and the rest of the people were treated as inferiors to carry out his commands. Things were very different among the Israelites. There, anyone could have a say in tribal matters; all could seek justice from a leader who knew his people well.
TEST YOURSELF
1.) The decision concerning the division of the land was made by?
A.) Eleazar the priest
B.) The Lord
C.) Caleb
D.) The tribal leaders
2.) The land east of the Jordan River
A.) Never was given to the tribes for it was never conquered
B.) Had already been given to two tribes
C.) Was the last to be given
3.) Caleb asked Joshua for his inheritance at?
A.) Hebron
B.) Bethlehem
C.) Jerusalem
4.) Until this time, Hebron had been known as?
A.) Jebus
B.) Kiriath-arba
C.) Kadesh-barnea
5.) Hebron was known for?
A.) Trade
B.) Good crops, especially grapes
C.) Both of these are correct |
