14 1 The land of Canaan was divided among the nine tribes and the half. 6 Caleb requireth the heritage that was promised him. 13 Hebron was given him.

These also are the places which the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan, (A)which Eleazar the Priest, and Joshua the son of Nun and the chief fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed to them,

(B)By the lot of their inheritance, as the Lord had commanded by the hand of Moses, to give to the nine tribes, and the half tribe.

For Moses had given inheritance unto [a]two tribes and an half tribe, beyond Jordan: but unto the Levites he gave none inheritance among them.

For the children of Joseph were [b]two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim, therefore they gave no part unto the Levites in the land, save cities to dwell in, with the suburbs of the same for their beasts and their substance.

(C)As the Lord had commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did when they divided the land.

¶ Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said unto him, Thou knowest what the Lord said unto Moses the man of God, concerning [c]thee and me in Kadesh Barnea.

Forty years old was I, when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to espy the land, and I brought him word again, as I thought in mine heart.

But my [d]brethren that went up with me, discouraged the heart of the people: yet I followed still the Lord my God.

Wherefore Moses swore the same day, saying, Certainly the land whereon thy feet have trodden, shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s forever, because thou hast followed constantly the Lord my God.

10 Therefore behold now, the Lord hath kept me alive, as he promised: this is the forty and fifth year since the Lord spake this thing unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now lo, I am this day four score and five years old:

11 And yet am as strong at this time, as I was when Moses sent me: as strong as I was then, so strong am I now, either for war, or [e]for government.

12 Now therefore give me this mountain whereof the Lord spake in that day (for thou heardest in that day, how the [f]Anakim were there, and the cities great and walled) [g]if so be the Lord will be with me that I may drive them out, as the Lord said.

13 Then Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh, Hebron for an inheritance.

14 (D)Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, unto this day: because he followed constantly the Lord God of Israel.

15 And the name of (E)Hebron was before time, Kirjath Arba: which Arba was a [h]great man among the Anakim: thus the land ceased from war.

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 14:3 As Reuben and Gad and half the tribe of Manasseh, Num. 32:33.
  2. Joshua 14:4 So though Levi lacked, yet were there still twelve tribes by this means.
  3. Joshua 14:6 Which was, that they two only should enter into the land, Num. 14:24.
  4. Joshua 14:8 Which were the ten other spies.
  5. Joshua 14:11 Hebrew, to go out and come in.
  6. Joshua 14:12 Or, giants.
  7. Joshua 14:12 This he spake of modesty, and not of doubting.
  8. Joshua 14:15 Either for his power or person.

Division of the Land West of the Jordan

14 Now these are the areas the Israelites received as an inheritance(A) in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar(B) the priest, Joshua son of Nun and the heads of the tribal clans of Israel(C) allotted(D) to them.(E) Their inheritances were assigned by lot(F) to the nine and a half tribes,(G) as the Lord had commanded through Moses. Moses had granted the two and a half tribes their inheritance east of the Jordan(H) but had not granted the Levites an inheritance among the rest,(I) for Joseph’s descendants had become two tribes—Manasseh and Ephraim.(J) The Levites received no share of the land but only towns to live in, with pasturelands for their flocks and herds.(K) So the Israelites divided the land, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.(L)

Allotment for Caleb

Now the people of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal,(M) and Caleb son of Jephunneh(N) the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the Lord said to Moses the man of God(O) at Kadesh Barnea(P) about you and me.(Q) I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea(R) to explore the land.(S) And I brought him back a report according to my convictions,(T) but my fellow Israelites who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt in fear.(U) I, however, followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.(V) So on that day Moses swore to me, ‘The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance(W) and that of your children(X) forever, because you have followed the Lord my God wholeheartedly.’[a]

10 “Now then, just as the Lord promised,(Y) he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved(Z) about in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old!(AA) 11 I am still as strong(AB) today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous(AC) to go out to battle now as I was then. 12 Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day.(AD) You yourself heard then that the Anakites(AE) were there and their cities were large and fortified,(AF) but, the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.”

13 Then Joshua blessed(AG) Caleb son of Jephunneh(AH) and gave him Hebron(AI) as his inheritance.(AJ) 14 So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the Lord, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly.(AK) 15 (Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba(AL) after Arba,(AM) who was the greatest man among the Anakites.)

Then the land had rest(AN) from war.

Footnotes

  1. Joshua 14:9 Deut. 1:36