According to the LORD's command to him, Joshua gave Caleb son of Jephunneh a portion among the sons of Judah--Kiriath-arba, that is, Hebron. (Arba was the forefather of Anak.) In accordance with the LORD’s command to himThis phrase underscores the divine authority and guidance behind Joshua's actions. The Hebrew root for "command" is "mitzvah," which implies a directive or ordinance from God. This highlights the importance of obedience to God's will, a central theme in the narrative of the Israelites. It reflects the belief that God's commands are not arbitrary but purposeful, guiding His people towards their destiny. Joshua gave Caleb son of Jephunneh
Here, Joshua, the leader of Israel, acts as an instrument of God's will. Caleb, whose name means "faithful" or "devotion" in Hebrew, is a figure of steadfast faith and courage. His lineage, "son of Jephunneh," connects him to the tribe of Judah, emphasizing the fulfillment of God's promises to those who remain faithful. Caleb's inheritance is a testament to his unwavering trust in God, as seen in earlier narratives where he stood firm in his belief that the Israelites could conquer the land. a portion among the descendants of Judah
The "portion" signifies an inheritance, a tangible fulfillment of God's promise to Caleb for his faithfulness. The tribe of Judah, from which Caleb hails, is significant in biblical history, being the tribe from which King David and ultimately Jesus Christ would come. This allocation of land is not just a personal reward but a strategic placement within the tribe destined for leadership and prominence in Israel's future. Kiriath-arba, that is, Hebron
"Kiriath-arba" means "City of Arba," named after Arba, a great man among the Anakim, a race of giants. The renaming to "Hebron" signifies a transformation from a place associated with fear and giants to a city of refuge and promise. Hebron holds historical and spiritual significance as a patriarchal city, where Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob sojourned and were buried. It symbolizes God's faithfulness across generations. (Arba was the forefather of Anak.)
This parenthetical note provides historical context, linking the land to its previous inhabitants, the Anakim, known for their formidable stature. The mention of Arba, the forefather, serves to highlight the miraculous nature of Caleb's inheritance. Despite the daunting presence of giants, Caleb's faith and God's promise prevail, illustrating the theme of divine victory over seemingly insurmountable obstacles. This serves as an inspiration for believers to trust in God's power and promises, regardless of the challenges they face. Persons / Places / Events 1. JoshuaThe leader of Israel after Moses, tasked with leading the Israelites into the Promised Land and distributing the land among the tribes. 2. Caleb son of JephunnehOne of the two faithful spies (along with Joshua) who trusted in God's promise to give Israel the land of Canaan. He is from the tribe of Judah. 3. Kiriath-arba (Hebron)A significant city in the hill country of Judah, originally named after Arba, the greatest man among the Anakim, a race of giants. 4. The LORD’s CommandRefers to God's directive to Moses and subsequently to Joshua to allocate a specific inheritance to Caleb because of his faithfulness. 5. AnakRefers to the descendants of Anak, known as the Anakim, who were formidable giants in the land of Canaan. Teaching Points Faithfulness RewardedCaleb's inheritance is a testament to God's faithfulness in rewarding those who trust and obey Him wholeheartedly. Believers are encouraged to remain steadfast in their faith, trusting that God sees and rewards faithfulness. Courage in the Face of GiantsCaleb's willingness to claim Hebron, despite the presence of the Anakim, serves as an example of courage and reliance on God's promises. Christians are called to face their own "giants" with similar faith and courage. Inheritance in ChristJust as Caleb received a physical inheritance, believers have a spiritual inheritance in Christ. This inheritance is secure and eternal, encouraging believers to live with an eternal perspective. Obedience to God's CommandsJoshua's obedience in giving Caleb his inheritance as commanded by God highlights the importance of following God's directives. Obedience is a key aspect of a faithful Christian walk. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Caleb's faithfulness in the past influence the inheritance he receives in Joshua 15:13? Reflect on how past faithfulness can impact your current spiritual journey. 2. What "giants" do you face in your life, and how can Caleb's example inspire you to confront them with faith and courage? 3. In what ways does the concept of inheritance in Joshua 15:13 parallel the spiritual inheritance promised to believers in the New Testament? 4. How does Joshua's obedience to God's command in distributing the land challenge you to be obedient in your own life? 5. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's faithfulness in rewarding your obedience. How can this encourage you to remain faithful in future challenges? Connections to Other Scriptures Numbers 13-14These chapters recount the account of the twelve spies, including Caleb and Joshua, and their report on the land of Canaan. Caleb's faithfulness is highlighted here. Deuteronomy 1:36God promises Caleb a portion of the land because he followed the LORD wholeheartedly. Judges 1:20This verse confirms the fulfillment of the promise as Caleb drives out the Anakim from Hebron. Genesis 23:2Hebron is also significant as the place where Sarah, Abraham's wife, died, and where Abraham purchased a burial plot. People Achsah, Addar, Ahiman, Anak, Anakites, Arba, Ben, Bohan, Cain, Caleb, Dagon, Debir, Dumah, Eder, Eglon, Ephron, Gad, Gedor, Hezron, Hoglah, Jebusites, Jephunneh, Jezreel, Joshua, Kenaz, Maon, Naamah, Othniel, Pelet, Reuben, Seir, Shamir, Shema, Sheshai, Shual, Talmai, Tappuah, Telem, Timnah, ZurPlaces Achzib, Adadah, Addar, Adullam, Adummim, Ain, Akrabbim, Amam, Anab, Anim, Aphekah, Arab, Ashan, Ashdod, Ashnah, Azekah, Baalah, Bealoth, Beersheba, Beth-anoth, Beth-arabah, Beth-dagan, Beth-hoglah, Beth-pelet, Beth-shemesh, Beth-tappuah, Beth-zur, Biziothiah, Bozkath, Brook of Egypt, Cabbon, Carmel, Chesalon, Chesil, Chitlish, City of Salt, Dannah, Debir, Dilean, Dimonah, Dumah, Eder, Edom, Eglon, Ekron, Eltekon, Eltolad, Enam, En-gannim, Engedi, En-rogel, En-shemesh, Eshan, Eshtaol, Eshtemoh, Ether, Ezem, Gaza, Gederah, Gederoth, Gederothaim, Gedor, Gibeah, Gilgal, Giloh, Great Sea, Hadashah, Halhul, Hazar-gaddah, Hazar-shual, Hazor, Hazor-hadattah, Hebron, Heshmon, Hezron, Holon, Hormah, Humtah, Iim, Iphtah, Ithnan, Jabneel, Jagur, Janim, Jarmuth, Jattir, Jebus, Jerusalem, Jokdeam, Joktheel, Jordan River, Juttah, Kabzeel, Kadesh-barnea, Kain, Keilah, Kerioth-hezron, Kinah, Kiriath-arba, Kiriath-baal, Kiriath-jearim, Kiriath-sannah, Kiriath-sepher, Lachish, Lahmam, Lebaoth, Libnah, Maarath, Madmannah, Makkedah, Maon, Mareshah, Middin, Migdal-gad, Mizpeh, Moladah, Mount Baalah, Mount Ephron, Mount Jearim, Mount Seir, Negeb, Nephtoah, Nezib, Nibshan, Rabbah, Rimmon, Salt Sea, Sansannah, Secacah, Shaaraim, Shamir, Shema, Shikkeron, Shilhim, Socoh, Tappuah, Telem, Timnah, Valley of Achor, Valley of Hinnom, Valley of Rephaim, Zanoah, Zenan, Ziklag, Zin, Zior, Ziph, ZorahTopics Anak, Arba, Caleb, Command, Commandment, Forefather, Hebron, Jephunneh, Jephun'neh, Joshua, Judah, Kiriath, Kiriath-arba, Kir'iath-ar'ba, Lord's, Midst, Named, Namely, Orders, Portion, SonsDictionary of Bible Themes Joshua 15:1-63 5235 boundary
7266 tribes of Israel Library The Sea of Sodom
The bounds of Judea, on both sides, are the sea; the western bound is the Mediterranean,--the eastern, the Dead sea, or the sea of Sodom. This the Jewish writers every where call, which you may not so properly interpret here, "the salt sea," as "the bituminous sea." In which sense word for word, "Sodom's salt," but properly "Sodom's bitumen," doth very frequently occur among them. The use of it was in the holy incense. They mingled 'bitumen,' 'the amber of Jordan,' and [an herb known to few], with …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and HebraicaTiglath-Pileser iii. And the Organisation of the Assyrian Empire from 745 to 722 B. C.
TIGLATH-PILESER III. AND THE ORGANISATION OF THE ASSYRIAN EMPIRE FROM 745 to 722 B.C. FAILURE OF URARTU AND RE-CONQUEST Of SYRIA--EGYPT AGAIN UNITED UNDER ETHIOPIAN AUSPICES--PIONKHI--THE DOWNFALL OF DAMASCUS, OF BABYLON, AND OF ISRAEL. Assyria and its neighbours at the accession of Tiglath-pileser III.: progress of the Aramaeans in the basin of the Middle Tigris--Urartu and its expansion into the north of Syria--Damascus and Israel--Vengeance of Israel on Damascus--Jeroboam II.--Civilisation …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 7 John the Baptist --visit of Jesus to John, and his Abode in the Desert of Judea --Adoption of the Baptism of John.
An extraordinary man, whose position, from the absence of documentary evidence, remains to us in some degree enigmatical, appeared about this time, and was unquestionably to some extent connected with Jesus. This connection tended rather to make the young prophet of Nazareth deviate from his path; but it suggested many important accessories to his religious institution, and, at all events, furnished a very strong authority to his disciples in recommending their Master in the eyes of a certain class …
Ernest Renan—The Life of Jesus Divers Matters.
I. Beth-cerem, Nehemiah 3:14. "The stones, as well of the altar, as of the ascent to the altar, were from the valley of Beth-cerem, which they digged out beneath the barren land. And thence they are wont to bring whole stones, upon which the working iron came not." The fathers of the traditions, treating concerning the blood of women's terms, reckon up five colours of it; among which that, "which is like the water of the earth, out of the valley of Beth-cerem."--Where the Gloss writes thus, "Beth-cerem …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica Epistle xxvi. To Theoctista, Patrician
To Theoctista, Patrician [1704] Gregory to Theoctista, &c. That your Excellency, though placed in so great a tumult of affairs, is full of the fruitfulness of the sacred word, and incessantly pants after eternal joys, for this I give great thanks to Almighty God, in that in you I see fulfilled what is written of the elect fathers, But the children of Israel walked on dry land through the midst of the sea (Exod. xv. 19). But on the other hand, I am come into the depth of the sea, and the storm hath …
Saint Gregory the Great—the Epistles of Saint Gregory the Great Emmaus. Kiriath-Jearim.
"From Beth-horon to Emmaus it was hilly."--It was sixty furlongs distant from Jerusalem.--"To eight hundred only, dismissed the army, (Vespasian) gave a place, called Ammaus, for them to inhabit: it is sixty furlongs distant from Jerusalem." I inquire, whether this word hath the same etymology with Emmaus near Tiberias, which, from the 'warm baths,' was called Chammath. The Jews certainly do write this otherwise... "The family (say they) of Beth-Pegarim, and Beth Zipperia was out of Emmaus."--The …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica The Coast of the Asphaltites, the Essenes. En-Gedi.
"On the western shore" (of the Asphaltites) "dwell the Essenes; whom persons, guilty of any crimes, fly from on every side. A nation it is that lives alone, and of all other nations in the whole world, most to be admired; they are without any woman; all lust banished, &c. Below these, was the town Engadda, the next to Jerusalem for fruitfulness, and groves of palm-trees, now another burying-place. From thence stands Massada, a castle in a rock, and this castle not far from the Asphaltites." Solinus, …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica And thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, too little to be among the thousands of Judah
"And thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, too little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall come forth unto Me (one) [Pg 480] to be Ruler in Israel; and His goings forth are the times of old, the days of eternity." The close connection of this verse with what immediately precedes (Caspari is wrong in considering iv. 9-14 as an episode) is evident, not only from the [Hebrew: v] copulative, and from the analogy of the near relation of the announcement of salvation to the prophecy of disaster …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Moses and his Writings
[Illustration: (drop cap W) Clay letter tablet of Moses' time.] We now begin to understand a little of the very beginning of God's Book--of the times in which it was written, the materials used by its first author, and the different kinds of writing from which he had to choose; but we must go a step farther. How much did Moses know about the history of his forefathers, Abraham and Jacob, and of all the old nations and kings mentioned in Genesis, before God called him to the great work of writing …
Mildred Duff—The Bible in its Making The Power of Assyria at Its Zenith; Esarhaddon and Assur-Bani-Pal
The Medes and Cimmerians: Lydia--The conquest of Egypt, of Arabia, and of Elam. As we have already seen, Sennacherib reigned for eight years after his triumph; eight years of tranquillity at home, and of peace with all his neighbours abroad. If we examine the contemporary monuments or the documents of a later period, and attempt to glean from them some details concerning the close of his career, we find that there is a complete absence of any record of national movement on the part of either Elam, …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 8 Some Helps to Mourning
Having removed the obstructions, let me in the last place propound some helps to holy mourning. 1 Set David's prospect continually before you. My sin is ever before me' (Psalm 51:3). David, that he might be a mourner, kept his eye full upon sin. See what sin is, and then tell me if there be not enough in it to draw forth tears. I know not what name to give it bad enough. One calls it the devil's excrement. Sin is a complication of all evils. It is the spirits of mischief distilled. Sin dishonours …
Thomas Watson—The Beatitudes: An Exposition of Matthew 5:1-12 Sennacherib (705-681 B. C. )
The struggle of Sennacherib with Judaea and Egypt--Destruction of Babylon. Sennacherib either failed to inherit his father's good fortune, or lacked his ability.* He was not deficient in military genius, nor in the energy necessary to withstand the various enemies who rose against him at widely removed points of his frontier, but he had neither the adaptability of character nor the delicate tact required to manage successfully the heterogeneous elements combined under his sway. * The two principal …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 8 Kadesh. Rekam, and that Double. Inquiry is Made, Whether the Doubling it in the Maps is Well Done.
The readers of the eastern interpreters will observe, that Kadesh is rendered by all Rekam, or in a sound very near it. In the Chaldee, it is 'Rekam': in the Syriac, 'Rekem': in the Arabic, 'Rakim'... There are two places noted by the name Rekam in the very bounds of the land,--to wit, the southern and eastern: that is, a double Kadesh. I. Of Kadesh, or Rekam, in the south part, there is no doubt. II. Of it, in the eastern part, there is this mention: "From Rekam to the east, and Rekam is as the …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica Joshua
The book of Joshua is the natural complement of the Pentateuch. Moses is dead, but the people are on the verge of the promised land, and the story of early Israel would be incomplete, did it not record the conquest of that land and her establishment upon it. The divine purpose moves restlessly on, until it is accomplished; so "after the death of Moses, Jehovah spake to Joshua," i. 1. The book falls naturally into three divisions: (a) the conquest of Canaan (i.-xii.), (b) the settlement of the …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Joshua 15:13 NIVJoshua 15:13 NLTJoshua 15:13 ESVJoshua 15:13 NASBJoshua 15:13 KJV
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