Joshua 14: Give Me This Mountain
The land is divided by lot, and Caleb, eighty-five and still strong, claims the hill country God promised him because he wholly followed the Lord.
Joshua 14 (WEB)
1 These are the inheritances which the children of Israel took in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers’ houses of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed to them,
2 by the lot of their inheritance, as Yahweh commanded by Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half-tribe.
3 For Moses had given the inheritance of the two tribes and the half-tribe beyond the Jordan; but to the Levites he gave no inheritance among them.
4 For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim: and they gave no portion to the Levites in the land, except cities to dwell in, with their suburbs for their livestock and for their property.
5 The children of Israel did as Yahweh commanded Moses, and they divided the land.
6 Then the children of Judah drew near to Joshua in Gilgal. Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know the thing that Yahweh spoke to Moses the man of God concerning me and concerning you in Kadesh Barnea.
7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of Yahweh sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land. I brought him word again as it was in my heart.
8 Nevertheless, my brothers who went up with me made the heart of the people melt; but I wholly followed Yahweh my God.
9 Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land where you walked shall be an inheritance to you and to your children forever, because you have wholly followed Yahweh my God.’
10 “Now, behold, Yahweh has kept me alive, as he spoke, these forty-five years, from the time that Yahweh spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness. Now, behold, I am eighty-five years old, today.
11 As yet I am as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now for war, to go out and to come in.
12 Now therefore give me this hill country, of which Yahweh spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and great and fortified cities. It may be that Yahweh will be with me, and I shall drive them out, as Yahweh spoke.”
13 Joshua blessed him; and he gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance.
14 Therefore Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day; because he wholly followed Yahweh, the God of Israel.
15 Now the name of Hebron before was Kiriath Arba, after the greatest man among the Anakim. The land had rest from war.
Joshua 14 (KJV)
1 And these are the countries which the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed for inheritance to them.
2 By lot was their inheritance, as the Lord commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half tribe.
3 For Moses had given the inheritance of two tribes and an half tribe on the other side Jordan: but unto the Levites he gave none inheritance among them.
4 For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim: therefore they gave no part unto the Levites in the land, save cities to dwell in, with their suburbs for their cattle and for their substance.
5 As the Lord commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did, and they divided the land.
6 Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the Lord said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadesh–barnea.
7 Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh–barnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in mine heart.
8 Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt: but I wholly followed the Lord my God.
9 And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy children’s for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the Lord my God.
10 And now, behold, the Lord hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the Lord spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.
11 As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.
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.
13 And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.
14 Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the Lord God of Israel.
15 And the name of Hebron before was Kirjath–arba; which Arba was a great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from war.
Joshua 14 (ASV)
1 And these are the inheritances which the children of Israel took in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers’ houses of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed unto them,
2 by the lot of their inheritance, as Jehovah commanded by Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half-tribe.
3 For Moses had given the inheritance of the two tribes and the half-tribe beyond the Jordan: but unto the Levites he gave no inheritance among them.
4 For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim: and they gave no portion unto the Levites in the land, save cities to dwell in, with the suburbs thereof for their cattle and for their substance.
5 As Jehovah commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did; and they divided the land.
6 Then the children of Judah drew nigh unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that Jehovah spake unto Moses the man of God concerning me and concerning thee in Kadesh-barnea.
7 Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of Jehovah sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in my heart.
8 Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart of the people melt; but I wholly followed Jehovah my God.
9 And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon thy foot hath trodden shall be an inheritance to thee and to thy children for ever, because thou hast wholly followed Jehovah my God.
10 And now, behold, Jehovah hath kept me alive, as he spake, these forty and five years, from the time that Jehovah spake this word unto Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old.
11 As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, and to go out and to come in.
12 Now therefore give me this hill-country, whereof Jehovah spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakim were there, and cities great and fortified: it may be that Jehovah will be with me, and I shall drive them out, as Jehovah spake.
13 And Joshua blessed him; and he gave Hebron unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance.
14 Therefore Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite unto this day; because that he wholly followed Jehovah, the God of Israel.
15 Now the name of Hebron beforetime was Kiriath-arba; which Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim. And the land had rest from war.
Summary
The distribution of the land of Canaan begins, overseen by Eleazar the priest, Joshua, and the heads of the tribes, who divide the inheritance by lot as Yahweh had commanded through Moses. The Levites receive no land, only cities to dwell in, since the Lord is their portion. Then Caleb, of the tribe of Judah, comes forward with a remarkable request grounded in an old promise. Forty-five years earlier he had been one of the twelve spies, and while the others made the people's hearts melt with fear, Caleb wholly followed Yahweh and brought back a faithful report. Moses had sworn that the land where Caleb walked would be his inheritance. Now eighty-five years old, Caleb declares he is as strong for war as he was that day, and he asks for the hill country where the fearsome Anakim lived in great and fortified cities, confident that Yahweh will be with him to drive them out. Joshua blesses him and gives him Hebron as his inheritance. The chapter closes by noting that Caleb received it because he wholly followed Yahweh, the God of Israel, and that the land then had rest from war.
Main Characters
- Caleb — The faithful old spy of Judah who, after forty-five years, claims the promised hill country, still strong and eager to face the Anakim because he wholly followed the Lord.
- Joshua — The leader who blesses Caleb and grants him Hebron as the inheritance Moses had sworn to him.
- Eleazar the priest — The high priest who, with Joshua and the tribal heads, oversees the distribution of the land by lot.
- Moses — The man of God, recalled here, who long before swore that Caleb's faithfulness would be rewarded with an inheritance.
Key Verse
Joshua 14:12 (WEB)
Now therefore give me this hill country, of which Yahweh spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and great and fortified cities. It may be that Yahweh will be with me, and I shall drive them out, as Yahweh spoke.”
Lessons Learned
- God remembers and keeps his promises, even across decades of waiting.
- Wholehearted devotion to the Lord is honored long after the moment of faith.
- Faith does not shrink from giants but trusts that the Lord will be with us.
- A lifetime of following God can leave us still vigorous in his service in old age.
- Wholehearted following marks true faith. Three times Caleb is commended because “he wholly followed Yahweh, the God of Israel” (Joshua 14:14, WEB), even when everyone around him gave way to fear.
- God keeps long-delayed promises. Caleb says, “Yahweh has kept me alive, as he spoke, these forty-five years” (Joshua 14:10, WEB). The Lord's word does not expire with time.
- Faith asks for the hard thing. Rather than choose easy land, Caleb requests the hill country of the Anakim, trusting, “It may be that Yahweh will be with me, and I shall drive them out” (Joshua 14:12, WEB).
- A life of faith can finish strong. At eighty-five Caleb declares, “As yet I am as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me” (Joshua 14:11, WEB). God sustains those who serve him.
- How was the land divided, and who oversaw the distribution?
- What set Caleb apart from the other ten spies forty-five years earlier?
- Why does Caleb ask for the hill country of the Anakim rather than easier territory?
- What does Caleb's energy and faith at eighty-five teach us about finishing life well?
- Is there a “mountain”—a hard but God-given challenge—you have been avoiding? What would it look like to ask the Lord for it?
- Eleazar the priest, Joshua, and the heads of the tribes distributed the inheritance by lot, as Yahweh had commanded through Moses (14:1-5). The lot expressed trust that God, not human preference, was assigning each portion, while Levi received only cities since the Lord was their inheritance.
- While the other spies “made the heart of the people melt,” Caleb “wholly followed Yahweh” and brought back a faithful report (14:7-8). He believed God's promise over the size of the giants, and that wholehearted trust is what God remembered and rewarded.
- Caleb deliberately chooses the place of greatest difficulty, where the Anakim dwelt in fortified cities (14:12). His faith does not look for the path of least resistance but trusts that the Lord who promised will be present to give victory.
- Caleb's vigor flows from a life of trusting God (14:10-11). His example encourages believers that following the Lord need not fade with age; faith can remain bold and useful to the very end. Invite older members especially to take heart.
- This is a personal-application question. Encourage members to name a daunting but God-given opportunity they have sidestepped, and to consider asking God for it with Caleb's confidence. As leader, affirm that the Lord's presence, not their strength, makes such requests possible.