Allotment of Canaan (13:1-24:33)

Possession West of the Jordan (14:1 to 19:51)

Plan for division 13:1-14:15

Faith: Perseverance

Joshua 14:1-15

Reading:

Songs:

Theme:

INTRODUCTION

B. With chapter thirteen began the second part of the Book Of Joshua. It dealt with how the land of Canaan was to be divided among the tribes of Israel. Though much of the land was still yet unconquered, each tribe learned what section of the land each would receive when it was conquered. In chapter fourteen we’re given the method used for dividing the land. We’re also told of Caleb’s inheritance and his faithfulness.

I. THE METHOD FOR THE ALLOTMENTS (14:1-5; 18:7).

KJV

1 ¶ And these are the countries which the children <01121> of Israel <03478> inherited <05157> (8804) in the land <0776> of Canaan <03667>, which Eleazar <0499> the priest <03548>, and Joshua <03091> the son <01121> of Nun <05126>, and the heads <07218> of the fathers <01> of the tribes <04294> of the children <01121> of Israel <03478>, distributed for inheritance <05157> (8765) to them.

2 By lot <01486> was their inheritance <05159>, as the LORD <03068> commanded <06680> (8765) by the hand <03027> of Moses <04872>, for the nine <08672> tribes <04294>, and for the half <02677> tribe <04294>.

3 For Moses <04872> had given <05414> (8804) the inheritance <05159> of two <08147> tribes <04294> and an half <02677> tribe <04294> on the other side <05676> Jordan <03383>: but unto the Levites <03881> he gave <05414> (8804) none inheritance <05159> among <08432> them.

4 For the children <01121> of Joseph <03130> were two <08147> tribes <04294>, Manasseh <04519> and Ephraim <0669>: therefore they gave <05414> (8804) no part <02506> unto the Levites <03881> in the land <0776>, save cities <05892> to dwell <03427> (8800) in, with their suburbs <04054> for their cattle <04735> and for their substance <07075>.

5 As the LORD <03068> commanded <06680> (8765) Moses <04872>, so the children <01121> of Israel <03478> did <06213> (8804), and they divided <02505> (8799) the land <0776>.

1. Eleazar the priest, Joshua, and the heads of the fathers’ houses instructed Israel in the division of the land (cp. Num 34:2-29). The land was distributed among them by lot (Num 26:52-56).

2. In chapter fourteen began the division of the land among the nine and a half tribes which had not yet received their inheritance. Two and a half tribes had already received their inheritance on the east side of the Jordan.

3. However, God mentioned previously to Moses, “To many thou shalt give the more inheritance, and to few ... give the less inheritance” (Num 26:54).

4. None of the land was to be divided up for the tribe of Levi (Jos 14:3b) but rather they received cities scattered throughout the land (Jos 14:4b).

5. They were the priest tribe and Israel needed their presence among each of the tribes.

Division to Judah and Caleb (14:6 to 15:63)

Hebron Allotted to Caleb

II. CALEB’S ALLOTMENT (14:6-15).

Remembrance

A. ... I wholly followed the LORD my God. And Moses sware on that day ... , Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance ... (14:6-9).

6 ¶ Then the children <01121> of Judah <03063> came <05066> (8799) unto Joshua <03091> in Gilgal <01537>: and Caleb <03612> the son <01121> of Jephunneh <03312> the Kenezite <07074> said <0559> (8799) unto him, Thou knowest <03045> (8804) the thing <01697> that the LORD <03068> said <01696> (8765) unto Moses <04872> the man <0376> of God <0430> concerning me <0182> and thee <0182> in Kadeshbarnea <06947>. [Ka'desh-bar'ne-a]

7 Forty <0705> years <08141> old <01121> was I when Moses <04872> the servant <05650> of the LORD <03068> sent <07971> (8800) me from Kadeshbarnea <06947> to espy out <07270> (8763) the land <0776>; and I brought <07725> <00> him word <01697> again <07725> (8686) as it was in mine heart <03824>.

8 Nevertheless my brethren <0251> that went up <05927> (8804) with me made the heart <03820> of the people <05971> melt <04529> (8689): but I wholly <04390> (8765) followed <0310> the LORD <03068> my God <0430>.

9 And Moses <04872> sware <07650> (8735) on that day <03117>, saying <0559> (8800), Surely the land <0776> whereon thy feet <07272> have trodden <01869> (8804) shall be thine inheritance <05159>, and thy children’s <01121> for <05704> ever <05769>, because thou hast wholly <04390> (8765) followed <0310> the LORD <03068> my God <0430>.

1. Forty-five years (forty years earlier plus the five years of conquering the land) earlier, Caleb, along with Joshua and ten other spies, were sent into the land of Canaan to spy for forty days.

2. Upon finishing their task, they returned to give a report to Moses, Aaron and the congregation of Israel (Num 13:25-26).

a. Ten reported that the land could not be conquered.

(1) They praised the land itself for its abundance, but they concluded that Israel could not conquer it.

(2) Caleb and Joshua disagreed and tried to encourage Israel to follow the Lord’s command.

b. Caleb believed that the land could be taken in spite of the obstacles that were present.

(1) The difference between the report given by the majority group of spies and Caleb's report had to do with where those spies placed their faith.

(2) The majority of the spies had faith in the power of men and comparing the large, fortified cities of Canaan, giants, etc. to themselves and thinking themselves insufficient.

(3) Due to their lack of trusting faith in God, they rebelled against God’s command for them to take the land.

c. When you examine those things you must conquer in your life, do you compare the enormous task to your own abilities, and deciding your insufficient, consider giving up, or do you consider God’s desire for you to succeed and include him in your figuring?

(1) Where do you place your faith?

(2) If rely on our own physical abilities or that of others, we will fail, but if our faith is placed primarily in God, we will have the strength to continue toward success (2Co 12:7-10).

d. Caleb, had placed his faith to succeed, in the power of God.

(1) To Caleb, God was greater than the biggest problem.

(2) What problems you are facing, remember that in the Lord you can conquer any obstacle with success.

(3) Caleb did not lie about the fact that Canaan had giants and fortified cities. He did not minimize the problems; rather, he magnified God.

(4) It was young, untrained David did when he faced the giant Goliath.

(a) It is not what the fighting men of Israel did (1Sa 17:1-10).

(b) David stood with the Lord, relying on his strength (1Sa 17:40, 48-53).

(5) God helped a stuttering Moses to become a deliverer of the people of Israel.

(6) God enabled Gideon, with only 300 soldiers armed with pitchers & trumpets, to defeat the armies of the Midianites.

(7) God enabled the apostles, armed only with the good news of the Gospel, to overcome the Roman Empire and turn the world right side up with the word.

(8) Whatever the problem is your are facing, God can also help you but you must put your trust in him.

3. In spite of the bad report from the other ten spies, Caleb did not give in to pressure and wholly followed the Lord.

a. He did not sacrifice his own convictions in order to make the majority report unanimous or to not appear as the odd man out in the situation.

b. Caleb believed in the promises God had revealed in his word to Israel and he believed that God would keep his word.

(1) God had previously stated to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, that the Israelites would inherit the land of Canaan.

(2) The promise was again repeated to Moses (Exo ).

c. Many people, particularly our young, cave into the pressures their friends or our society put on them to conform to worldliness, such as in clothing, conversation, character.

d. Much of it is done because they do not believe God will supply for their needs at least, not on time.

e. Do you as Caleb, who knew he could trust God, place you faith completely with God.

4. As a result of Caleb's faithfulness as a spy, he was promised that he would someday inherit the territory in the land of Canaan, which he had explored.

a. If we will wholly rely upon the Lord, we too will have success in conquering the obstacles set before us.

b. Forty-five years was a long time for Caleb to endure, waiting for the fulfillment of that promise.

c. Are you willing to endure, to persist, to continue to petition God in prayer until he answers you needs, no matter how long it takes (cp. Luk 18:1-8).

Request

B. Now therefore give me this mountain ... (14:10-12).

10 And now, behold, the LORD <03068> hath kept me alive <02421> (8689), as he said <01696> (8765), these forty <0705> and five <02568> years <08141>, even since <0227> the LORD <03068> spake <01696> (8765) this word <01697> unto Moses <04872>, while the children of Israel <03478> wandered <01980> (8804) in the wilderness <04057>: and now, lo, I am this day <03117> fourscore <08084> and five <02568> years <08141> old <01121>. {wandered: Heb. walked}

11 As yet I am as strong <02389> this day <03117> as I was in the day <03117> that Moses <04872> sent <07971> (8800) me: as my strength <03581> was then, even so is my strength <03581> now, for war <04421>, both to go out <03318> (8800), and to come in <0935> (8800).

12 Now therefore give <05414> (8798) me this mountain <02022>, whereof the LORD <03068> spake <01696> (8765) in that day <03117>; for thou heardest <08085> (8804) in that day <03117> how the Anakims <06062> were there, and that the cities <05892> were great <01419> and fenced <01219> (8803): if so be <0194> the LORD <03068> will be with <0854> me, then I shall be able to drive them out <03423> (8689), as the LORD <03068> said <01696> (8765).

1. Caleb had a mountain in his heart, and asked, "give me this mountain" (v 12).

a. Hebron was a place which was associated in the mind of any Jew with the patriarchs.

b. It is first mentioned in scripture way back in Genesis thirteen where Abram dwelt, the plain of Mamre, which is in Hebron (Gen 13:18).

(1) It was the place where Abraham built his altar, and where much of the Abrahamic covenant was given--the promise of the Land and the Seed.

(2) It was where Abraham lived, and where Abraham, Sarah, Isaac and Jacob and their wives, were buried.

(3) It would have evoked very important memories in the minds of God's people.

c. Some say, “Give me of revenge” (cp. Mat 14:8).

(1) After John Baptist had preached to and that it was ungodly for them to remain husband and wife, not doubt, seeking revenge, she formulated a plan to get rid of John.

(2) Has anyone caused you pain and now it has become your goal in life is to get back at that person.

d. Some say, “Give me of riotous living” (Luk 15:12).

e. Some say, “Give me religious showmanship” (Act 8:19).

2. Caleb said, Give me godly reward.

3. Are you willing like Caleb, to say to the world, “Keep your power, your prestige, your popularity, possessions, preeminence, and your pleasures, I want what God wants me to receive and I will wait for it?”

4. Caleb was willing.

Reward

C. ... Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb ... Hebron for an inheritance ... (14:13-15).

13 And Joshua <03091> blessed <01288> (8762) him, and gave <05414> (8799) unto Caleb <03612> the son <01121> of Jephunneh <03312> Hebron <02275> for an inheritance <05159>.

14 Hebron <02275> therefore became the inheritance <05159> of Caleb <03612> the son <01121> of Jephunneh <03312> the Kenezite <07074> unto this day <03117>, because that he wholly <04390> (8765) followed <0310> the LORD <03068> God <0430> of Israel <03478>.

15 And the name <08034> of Hebron <02275> before <06440> was Kirjatharba <07153>; which Arba was a great <01419> man <0120> among the Anakims <06062>. And the land <0776> had rest <08252> (8804) from war <04421>.

1. Caleb was eighty-five years old when he went regarding his inheritance, to Joshua and received it (v 13).

a. Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite," was not a Jew; he was an Edomite.

b. The Ken'izzites were distant cousins to the nation of Israel.

c. They were descended from Esau, Jacob's brother and the son of Isaac.

d. When Jacob received Esau’s inheritance, he went and lived in Edom across the Jordan River.

e. The Edomites were long-standing enemies of Israel.

f. Throughout Israel's history they carried out a border warfare of skirmishes and incursions into the land.

g. Caleb was born outside the covenant people of God.

h. In tracing his lineage in the book of 1 Chronicles, it is apparent that sometime in the history of his family, he was adopted into the tribe of Judah.

(1) There were a few other notable names of Gentile converts in the Old Testament, such as Rahab the Amorite (chapters 2, 6), and Ruth the Moabitess.

(2) God accepts all who come to him in obedience to his word (Heb 2:11).

(3) If your not a Christian according to the Bible, will you today respond to the gospel invitation?

2. Five times in scripture (Num 32:12; Deu 1:36; Jos 14:8, 9, 14) we are told that Caleb, "wholly followed the Lord" (v 14).

a. Who do your actions declare you follow?

b. Is it yourself or God?

Conclusion:

A question we all need to ask ourselves when we are unsuccessful and have given up, Did we stop trying because we failed or did we fail, because you stopped trying.

Of course at the same time, we all must remember those who are struggling and to come to their help (Gal 6:1-2)

Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.

2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.