CHAPTER XIV _Eleazar, Joshua, and the heads of the fathers, distribute the_ _land by lot to the people_, 1-3. _The Levites receive no land, but cities to dwell in, and suburbs_ _for their cattle_, 4, 5. _Caleb requests to have Mount Hebron for an inheritance, because_ _of his former services_,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 14:2. _BY LOT WAS THEIR INHERITANCE_] Concerning the meaning and use of the lot, see the note on Numbers 26:55; and concerning the manner of _casting lots_ in the case of the _scapegoat_, see the note on Leviticus 16:8-3. On this subject Dr. Dodd has selected some good observations fr... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 14:4. _THE CHILDREN OF JOSEPH WERE TWO TRIBES_] This was ascertained by the prophetic declaration of their grandfather Jacob, Genesis 48:5-1; and as _Levi_ was taken out of the tribes for the service of the sanctuary, one of these sons of Joseph came in his place, and Joseph was treated... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 14:5. _THEY DIVIDED THE LAND._] This work was begun some time before at _Gilgal_, and was finished some time after at _Shiloh_. It must have required a very considerable time to make all the geographical arrangements that were necessary for this purpose.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 14:6. _CALEB THE SON OF JEPHUNNEH THE KENEZITE_] In the note on the parallel place, Numbers 32:12, it is said Kenaz was probably the _father_ of Jephunneh, and that Jephunneh not Caleb, was the Kenezite; but still, allowing this to be perfectly correct, Caleb might also be called the _... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 14:7. _AS IT WAS IN MINE HEART._] Neither _fear_ nor _favour_ influenced him on the occasion; he told what he believed to be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 14:9. _THE LAND WHEREON THY FEET HAVE TRODDEN_] This probably refers to _Hebron_, which was no doubt mentioned on this occasion.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 14:10. _THESE FORTY AND FIVE YEARS_] Joshua 13:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 14:11. _EVEN SO IS MY STRENGTH NOW_] I do not ask this place because I wish to sit down now, and take my ease; on the contrary, I know I must fight, to drive out the Anakim, and I am as able and willing to do it as I was forty-five years ago, when Moses sent me to spy out the land.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 14:12. _I SHALL BE ABLE TO DRIVE THEM OUT_] He cannot mean _Hebron_ merely, for that had been taken before by Joshua; but in the request of Caleb doubtless all the _circumjacent country_ was comprised, in many parts of which the Anakim were still in considerable force. It has been conje... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 14:13. _JOSHUA BLESSED HIM_] As the word _bless_ often signifies to _speak good_ or _well of_ or _to_ any person, (Genesis 2:3), here it may mean the _praise_ bestowed on Caleb's intrepidity and faithfulness by Joshua, as well as a _prayer_ to God that he might have prosperity in all th... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 14:14. _HEBRON THEREFORE BECAME THE INHERITANCE OF CALEB_] Joshua admitted his claim, recognized his right, and made a full conveyance of Hebron and its dependencies to Caleb and his posterity; and this being done in the sight of all the elders of Israel, the right was publicly acknowle... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Joshua 14:15. _AND THE NAME OF HEBRON BEFORE_ WAS _KIRJATH-ARBA_] That is, _the city of Arba_, or rather, _the city of the four_, for thus קרית ארבע _kiryath arba_ may be literally translated. It is very likely that this city had its name from _four_ Anakim, gigantic or powerful men, probably... [ Continue Reading ]