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Caleb

Caleb, whose name means “wholehearted” or “faithful,” is first mentioned in Scripture in Numbers 13:6. Numbers 13:1–14:45 records the appointment of 12 Israelite spies (one from each tribe) to explore the land of Canaan and bring back a report regarding the land and its people. Caleb was appointed as a spy from the tribe of Judah. When the spies returned, only he and Joshua, who would take the mantle of leadership from Moses, affirmed that though the land was inhabited by strong and powerful people, the Israelites should trust God to empower them to take it. The remaining 10 spies spoke disparagingly of their prospects to conquer the land, and unfortunately, the people listened to these spies rather than to Caleb and Joshua. Because of their lack of faith, all the Israelites who where 20 years old and older, with exception of Caleb and Joshua, were sentenced to wander in the wilderness until they died; thus they would not enter the promised land. In fact, even though the Lord specifically named both Caleb and Joshua as being exempt from this punishment (see 14:38), he also singled Caleb out for a special promise. He said because “Caleb has a different spirit and has followed Me completely, I will bring him into the land where he has gone, and his descendants will inherit it” (v. 24). It would be another 40 years before Israel would invade and conquer the promised land to inhabit it.

Caleb was the “son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite” (Num. 32:12), but as we have indicated already, he was from the tribe of Judah. Apparently Caleb’s family was among a Kenizzite clan who united with the Israelites and with Judah. The Kenizzites were Edomites; Genesis 36:9-11 indicates this line descended from Esau.

At the time that the 12 spies scouted the land, Caleb was 40 years old (see Josh. 14:6-7). Forty-five years later (see v. 10), when the land was being apportioned, Caleb received the land that had been promised him years before. Caleb was still as healthy and strong as he had been when he entered the land as a spy. So, “Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as an inheritance” (Josh. 14: 13). Scripture continues, “Therefore, Hebron belongs to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite as an inheritance to this day, because he remained loyal to the LORD, the God of Israel” (v. 14). Joshua 15:13-19 speaks of Caleb’s conquests of “the three sons of Anak: Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, descendants of Anak” (v. 14), and of his efforts against a place called Debir. Caleb had a daughter named Achsah, and he offered her hand in marriage to the one who conquered Debir. His nephew, Othniel, overtook it and took Achsah to be his wife. Caleb gave them land and springs as well.

We do not know any more about Caleb’s life, and we know nothing about his death. The example he provides in Scripture, however, continues to inspire and encourage Bible students today.

 

Copyright © 2016 B. Nathaniel Sullivan. All rights reserved.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations in this article are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Holman CSB®, and HCSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers.