Joshua 14:12

_NOW THEREFORE GIVE ME THIS MOUNTAIN, WHEREOF THE LORD SPAKE IN THAT DAY; FOR THOU HEARDEST IN THAT DAY HOW THE ANAKIMS WERE THERE, AND THAT THE CITIES WERE GREAT AND FENCED: IF SO BE THE LORD WILL BE WITH ME, THEN I SHALL BE ABLE TO DRIVE THEM OUT, AS THE LORD SAID._ Give me this mountain - this highland region. FOR THOU HEARDEST IN THAT DAY HOW THE ANAKIMS WERE THERE. The report of the spies who tried to kindle the flame of sedition and discontent related chiefly to the people and condition of this mountain district; and hence, it was promised as the reward of Caleb's truth, piety, and faithfulness. The Anakim were a branch of the Rephaim race (see the note at Numbers 13:33; Deuteronomy 2:10; also...

6-15 Caleb's request is, "Give me this mountain," or Hebron, because it was formerly in God's promise to him, and he would let Israel knows how much he valued the promise. Those who live by faith value that which is given by God's promise, far above what is given by his providence only. It was now in the Anakims' possession, and Caleb would let Israel know how little he feared the enemy, and that he would encourage them to push on their conquests. Caleb answered to his name, which signifies "all heart." Hebron was settled on Caleb and his heirs, because he wholly followed the Lord God of Israel. Happy are we if we follow him. Singular piety shall be crowned with singular favour....

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 conjectured that Hebron itself had again fallen under the power of its former possessors, who, taking the advantage of the absence of the Israelitish army, who were employed in other parts of the country, re-entered the city, and restored their ancient domination. But the first opinion seems best founded....

The Anakims had in the course of Joshua’s campaigns in the south been expelled from “this mountain,” i. e. the mountain country round Hebron, but they had only withdrawn to the neighboring cities of Philistia Joshua 11:22. Thence, they had, as must be inferred from the text here, returned and reoccupied Hebron, probably when Joshua and the main force of the Israelites had marched northward to deal with Jabin and his confederates. Caleb finally drove out this formidable race and occupied Hebron and its dependent towns and district permanently. See Joshua 15:13 following....

EXPOSITION JOSHUA 14:1 TRIBES. The word here for "tribes," in connection with the word "fathers," is the one which implies genealogical descent (see note on Joshua 13:29). ELEAZAR THE PRIEST, AND JOSHUA THE SON OF NUN, AND THE HEADS OF THE FATHERS OF THE TRIBES. A picture of national unity; the head of the Church, representing the religious aspect of the community; the head of the State, representing its civil aspect; the heads of the tribes, to signify the general assent of the body politic. A work so begun was likely to be satisfactorily carried out. And accordingly the distribution of the land, recognised as carried out according to the will of God, displayed no partiality, and excited no jealousies....

NOW THEREFORE GIVE ME THIS MOUNTAIN, WHEREOF THE LORD SPAKE IN THAT DAY,.... The mountainous part of the country, the hill country of Judea, in which Hebron, Debir, and other cities were; for it was not one particular city only that Caleb requested, but a large tract of ground; FOR THOU HEARDEST IN THAT DAY HOW THE ANAKIMS [WERE] THERE, AND [THAT] THE CITIES [WERE] GREAT AND FENCED; that the giants, called Anakims, dwelt in the mountainous country, and their cities, Hebron, Debir, and Anab, were very large, and well fortified; this Joshua heard at the time the spies were sent into the land, he being one of them; and this he heard, not from the report of the spies, but from the people of the country, and therefore must know that to conquer these men, and subdue their cities, was an arduous undertaking; but since he had strength and courage, he hoped his request would be granted: IF SO B...

2. CALEB'S REQUEST AND INHERITANCE CHAPTER 14 _ 1. The inheritance by lot (Joshua 14:1)_ 2. Caleb's request (Joshua 14:6) Judah's portion comes first, and as they draw near to Joshua to receive their inheritance by lot (See Proverbs 16:33 and Acts 1:26) at Gilgal (note the recurrence of this place and its significance), Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, steps to the front. It was not forwardness or love of the preeminence which led him to do this, but the burning zeal in that old, yet youthful soul. He comes to claim the inheritance, which forty-five years ago Moses had promised unto him. Caleb was eighty-five years old

ANAKIMS. See note on Numbers 13:22.Deuteronomy 1:28, and App-23 and App-25....

The Possession of Caleb 6. _in Gilgal_ Where the casting of the lots commenced. _and Caleb the son of Jephunneh_ Caleb was a prince of the tribe of Judah, a descendant of Hezron, the son of Pharez, and grandson of Judah (1Ch 2:5; 1 Chronicles 2:18; 1 Chronicles 2:25). He is first mentioned in the list of the princes who were sent to search the land of Canaan in the second year of the Exodus (Numbers 13:6), and he and Joshua were the only two who on their return encouraged the Israelites to go up and take possession of the land. In the plague that ensued, these two alone were spared, and deemed worthy to enter the Promised Land ...

_VER._ 12. _IN THAT DAY_ (_FOR THOU HEARDEST_) &C.— The LXX and Vulgate construe these words with what goes before, and render the whole thus: _Give me, therefore, this mountain, which the Lord promised me, as thou thyself heardst._ Beside the city of Hebron, the Anakims possessed at least two others in this district. See Numbers 13:29; Numbers 13:32; Judges 11:21 Joshua 20:7. _IF—THE LORD WILL BE WITH ME, THEN I SHALL BE ABLE,_ &C.— Here arises a difficulty. We observed that Joshua had already taken Hebron; how, therefore, can Caleb say now that he shall drive out the Anakims? Some are of op