JOSHUA 14-17 - Division of land west of Jordan

NOTES BY VERSE

Note: each ** comment in this document is listed in numerical order according to the verse(s) from this chapter

CHAPTER 14

** Caleb reminded Joshua of the promise God made him when he came back from spying on the land, trusting God even though it looked bleak

• Caleb was 1 of 12 spies who had scouted Canaan some 45 years earlier

• Only he and Joshua had urged Israel to trust God and invade Canaan

• Caleb, who still trusted God, asked for a parcel of land still occupied by a warlike people, the Anakites

• With God’s help, Caleb wanted to drive the Anakites out of the land

• Caleb modeled what it was like for a man to stand with God  <R1795>

Joshua 14:6-7,10-13 NIV

[6] Now the people of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the Lord said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. [7] I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, [10] “Now then, just as the Lord promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! [11] I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. [12] Now give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.” [13] Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance.

Joshua 14:14 NIV

[14] So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the Lord, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly.

** After 85 years of waiting and resisting temptation to follow the crowd, Caleb was ready to receive his award

Joshua 14:11 NIV

[11] I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I'm just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then.

Some of the young guys of Israel probably laughed at this point. What was this 85 year-old man going to be doing? But Caleb was still strong. Though his outward man was perishing, his inward man had been renewed day by day.

2 Corinthians 4:16 NIV

[16] Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.

Caleb had maintained a first-love relationship with God and, as a result, he maintained his first strength. We see the practical results of this inner strength demonstrated when Caleb drove out the three groups of Anakites.

Joshua 15:13-14 NIV

[13] In accordance with the Lord's command to him, Joshua gave to Caleb son of Jephunneh a portion in Judah---Kiriath Arba , that is, Hebron. (Arba was the forefather of Anak.) [14] From Hebron Caleb drove out the three Anakites---Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai, the sons of Anak.

Here, we discover that of all the people who received an inheritance in the land, only Caleb completely drove out the enemy. And he faced some of the most formidable foes in the entire land.

Caleb had specifically asked for Hebron. This was no garden spot. It was a rugged, treacherous area with a powerful enemy stronghold guarded by the strongest men. This was no easy duty for Caleb.

Being an older guy, he could have asked for a nice, comfortable plot of land where there were no enemies to drive out. But he asked for one of the toughest assignments. And then he drove out his enemies.

Maybe, just maybe, there was another motive for Caleb’s wanting Hebron. The Bible tells us that in Hebron, God spoke with Abraham face to face and gave him the promise of the land in the first place.  <L120>

** One of the reasons this world appeals to many of us and we find its offerings tantalizing, is that we’re lacking closeness with God.

• If we can get our priorities right, however, we can see the world for what it is

• That is what Caleb did: the Bible said that he wholeheartedly followed the Lord, the God of Israel

• The key to wholeheartedly following the Lord is maintaining a love relationship with Jesus Christ

• When you do, this world will lose its appeal  <L120>

Joshua 14:14 NIV

[14] So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the Lord, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly.

John 8:47 NIV

[47] Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.”

CHAPTER 15

** Caleb went on to conquer more land and gave his daughter to the man who took the land of Kiriath Sepher

Joshua 15:14-17 NIV

[14] From Hebron Caleb drove out the three Anakites---Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai, the sons of Anak. [15] From there he marched against the people living in Debir (formerly called Kiriath Sepher). [16] And Caleb said, “I will give my daughter Aksah in marriage to the man who attacks and captures Kiriath Sepher.” [17] Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s brother, took it; so Caleb gave his daughter Aksah to him in marriage.

CHAPTER 16

** The Israelites did not purge the land of all Canaanites and had to deal with them, even though Joshua assured them that God would be with them to victory

• Ephraim did not drive out the Canaanites

• This was the first mention of the fatal neglect to exterminate the idolaters  <M130>

Joshua 16:10 NIV

[10] They did not dislodge the Canaanites living in Gezer; to this day the Canaanites live among the people of Ephraim but are required to do forced labor.

Joshua 17:12-13 NIV

[12] Yet the Manassites were not able to occupy these towns, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that region. [13] However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they subjected the Canaanites to forced labor but did not drive them out completely.

Joshua 17:14-16 NIV

[14] The people of Joseph said to Joshua, “Why have you given us only one allotment and one portion for an inheritance? We are a numerous people, and the Lord has blessed us abundantly.” [15] “If you are so numerous,” Joshua answered, “and if the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go up into the forest and clear land for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites and Rephaites. ” [16] The people of Joseph replied, “The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the plain have chariots fitted with iron, both those in Beth Shan and its settlements and those in the Valley of Jezreel.”

Deuteronomy 20:4 NIV

[4] For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory. ”

Deuteronomy 20:16-18 NIV

[16] However, in the cities of the nations the Lord your God is giving you as an inheritance, do not leave alive anything that breathes. [17] Completely destroy them---the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites---as the Lord your God has commanded you. [18] Otherwise, they will teach you to follow all the detestable things they do in worshiping their gods, and you will sin against the Lord your God.

CHAPTER 17

** Despite victory, indications of future disaster appeared among the tribes of Israel due to disobedience  <R1795>

Joshua 17:13 NIV

[13] However, when the Israelites grew stronger, they subjected the Canaanites to forced labor but did not drive them out completely.