Topical Bible: Caleb: Age of

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Caleb, a prominent figure in the Hebrew Bible, is best known for his unwavering faith and loyalty to God during the Israelites' journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. His age is mentioned explicitly in the Scriptures, providing insight into his life and the timeline of events surrounding the Israelite conquest of Canaan.

Caleb first appears in the biblical narrative as one of the twelve spies sent by Moses to scout the land of Canaan. At this time, Caleb was already a leader among the tribe of Judah. The Bible does not specify his exact age during this mission, but it is clear that he was a mature and respected figure. Numbers 13:6 lists Caleb as one of the spies: "from the tribe of Judah, Caleb son of Jephunneh."

The most detailed account of Caleb's age is found in the Book of Joshua. After the Israelites had wandered in the wilderness for forty years due to their lack of faith, Caleb, along with Joshua, was one of the only two original spies who survived to enter the Promised Land. In Joshua 14:7-10 , Caleb recounts his age at the time of the spying mission and his current age: "I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land, and I brought him back an honest report. My brothers who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear, but I followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly. So on that day Moses swore to me, 'The land on which your foot has walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.' Now behold, the LORD has kept me alive these forty-five years as He promised, since the LORD spoke this word to Moses, while Israel wandered in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old."

From this passage, it is clear that Caleb was forty years old at the time of the spying mission and eighty-five years old when he made his request to Joshua for the hill country of Hebron. This indicates that Caleb lived through the entire period of the Israelites' wilderness wanderings and was still vigorous and ready for battle at the age of eighty-five. Joshua 14:11 further emphasizes his strength: "I am still as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me out; my strength for battle and for going out and coming in is now as it was then."

Caleb's age is significant not only as a testament to his physical vitality but also as a symbol of his enduring faith and commitment to God's promises. His life serves as an example of perseverance and trust in divine providence, qualities that are celebrated in the biblical narrative.

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Joshua 14:7-10
Forty years old was I when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him word again as it was in my heart.
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Library

Caleb --A Green Old Age
... THE BOOK OF JOSHUA CALEB"A GREEN OLD AGE. 'And Caleb... said unto him
(Joshua), Thou knowest the thing that the Lord said unto ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/caleba green old age.htm

That those who Put what is virtuous Before what is Useful are ...
... plague. [653] Joshua and Caleb [654] entered the land of promise together
with those who were innocent by reason of age or sex. 56. ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter viii that those who.htm

A Summary of Israel's Faithlessness and God's Patience
... If Joshua was of about the same age as Caleb, he would be about eighty at the beginning
of the conquest, and lived thirty years afterwards, so that about ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/a summary of israels faithlessness.htm

At the Well
... Both were soldiers, both black and stern. But one was a Hebrew, no less than
forty-five years of age. He ... "Peace to thee, Caleb.". The ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xxxvii at the well.htm

Heathenism.
... It preserved the memory of a golden age and of a fall. ... Jethro, the priest of Midian;
Rahab, the Canaanite woman and hostess of Joshua and Caleb; Ruth, the ...
/.../schaff/history of the christian church volume i/section 11 heathenism.htm

The End of the War
... doeth it all Himself.' The military genius and heroic constancy of Joshua, the
eagerness for perilous honour that flamed, undimmed by age, in Caleb, the daring ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture f/the end of the war.htm

Massillon -- the Small Number of the Elect
... great truth; and, running over the history of the just, from age to age, show you ...
to be the sole depositary of the covenant with God; Joshua and Caleb the only ...
/.../kleiser/the worlds great sermons volume 3/massillon the small number.htm

An Account of the General Conference of 1796
... were obliged to perform, brought on many of them premature old age, and in ... Jacob
Baker, Henry Manly, Burton Wallace, Josiah Lusby, Hugh Smith, Caleb North, and ...
/.../chapter 2 an account of.htm

The Census of Israel
... away, and if these same names had been read out not a man save Caleb and Joshua ... all
that stood in their places by the Jordan were men who were under age at the ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/the census of israel.htm

God's People in the Furnace
... Look at the world in its primeval age, when Adam and Eve are expelled the garden ...
those who were most in the furnace, Joshua, the son of Nun, and Caleb, the son ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/gods people in the furnace.htm