Josué 14
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
Josué 14:1-5
14:1 "Eleazar the priest" This was the son of Aaron, who was the High Priest at this time and who served Moses (cf. Num. 20:24-29; 26:1-4,63) and Joshua during this very difficult period (e.g., Joshua 22). Moses assigned the task of apportionment to Joshua and Eleazar in Num. 34:17. 14:2 "by the lot" We are not exactly certain as to how this apportionment was done (BDB 174, cf. Num. 26:53-56; 33:54; 34:13). The rabbis say that there were two jars: one which contained the land allotments and the other which contained the names of the tribes, but this is only speculation. It was the casting of dice or choosing a black or white rock out of a pouch or something like this, but we are just uncertain. Some try to relate it to the Urim and Thummin (cf. Exod. 28:30), which was kept in the breastplate of the High Priest; this is a real possibility. Whatever the means, it was seen as God's giving of the land to the tribes. The land could not be sold permanently (i.e., the year of Jubilee, cf. Lev. 25:8-17). SPECIAL TOPIC: URIM AND THUMMIM ▣ "nine tribes" There are thirteen tribes. Joseph is given the double inheritance of the firstborn, thereby his two sons Ephraim and Manasseh each inherit. Levi, though a full tribe, does not inherit land. Therefore, only twelve tribes inherit portions of the Promised Land. ▣ "the half-tribe" This refers to the fact that of all the tribes only Manasseh inherited land on both sides of the Jordan.
Josué 14:6-12
14:6 "Gilgal" This refers to the original campsite close to Jericho. This is a flashback to an earlier time. ▣ "Caleb" The name "Caleb" means "dog" (BDB 477). This passage is paralleled in Jdg. 1:8-15. However, Caleb is described here as a Kenizzite (cf. 1 Chr. 4:13-16), which means that he was not originally of the tribe of Judah, but of a clan of Esau (cf. Gen. 15:19; 36:11). However, within the Pentateuch he is said to be within Judah (cf. Num. 13:6; 14:24; 34:19; 1 Chr. 6:55-56). His exact relationship to Judah is uncertain, but he was a faithful, godly man and one of the two faithful spies (cf. Numbers 13, esp. Jos. 14:30-33). ▣ "the word" See Numbers 14:24,30. ▣ "Moses the man of God" The phrase, "man of God," is used of several people: Moses (cf. Deut. 33:1; 1 Chr. 23:14; 2 Chr. 30:16; Ezra 3:2; Ps. 90:1) Elijah Elisha Samuel David Shemiah Hanan anonymous person in 1 Sam. 2:27 and 1 Kgs. 13:1-3 The phrase is never man of YHWH woman of God For Elohim (God) see SPECIAL TOPIC: NAMES FOR DEITY, C. ▣ "Kadesh-barnea" This (BDB 873 II) was a large desert oasis which became the central point of the wilderness wandering period. It is south of the Dead Sea and midway between the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean Ocean. The word "Kadesh" comes from the Hebrew term "holy," while the term "barnea" is unknown. 14:7 "Moses the servant of the Lord" This is the more common title for Moses. See note at Jos. 1:1. It is an honorific title which was used for Joshua after his death. It may be the source of Paul's favorite phrase "the slave of Christ." SPECIAL TOPIC: MY SERVANT 14:8 This refers to the majority report of the twelve spies recorded in Num. 13:25-29; 14:1-10. ▣ "made the heart of the people melt with fear" The VERB "melt" (BDB 587, KB 604, Hiphil PERFECT) is an idiom for fear and timidity (cf. Deut. 1:28; Jos. 5:1). ▣ "but I followed the Lord my God fully" "but I wholly followed the Lord my God" NRSV, Peshitta "yet I wholeheartedly followed the Lord my God" "But I faithfully followed the Lord my God" "whereas I myself scrupulously obeyed Yahweh my God" "I was loyal to the Lord my God" "I added to follow closely the Lord my God" "but I loyally carried out the purpose of the Lord my God" The VERB (BDB 569, KB 583, Piel PERFECT, cf. Jos. 14:9,14; Num. 14:24; 32:11,12; Deut. 1:36; 1 Kgs. 11:6) is a testimony of Caleb's faithfulness (i.e., wholly follow), even throughout the period where the other spies gave an evil report. 14:9 "So Moses swore on that day" (cf. Num. 34:24; Deut. 1:36). ▣ "forever" See SPECIAL TOPIC: FOREVER ('olam). 14:10 "I am eighty-five years old today" He may have been been forty years old at the time he was the representative of Judah to spy out the land. Israel wandered thirty-eight years in the desert (cf. Deut. 2:14); apparently the conquest had taken seven more years. 14:11 "I am still as strong today as I was in the day Moses sent me" This is the same kind of testimony that Moses gives of himself at the age of one hundred and twenty (cf. Deut. 34:7). ▣ "for going out and coming in" This is an idiom (BDB 422 and BDB 97, both Qal INFINITIVE CONSTRUCTS) for the strength and vitality needed for everyday life. 14:12 "give me this hill country" The VERB (BDB 678, 733, Qal IMPERATIVE) is a polite request to fulfill a previous promise of YHWH through Moses. ▣ "Anakim" This is another reference to the giants. The etymology may be "the long necks" (BDB 778, cf. Jos. 13:33). See note at Jos. 11:21. Caleb wanted the hard assignment! He fully believed and acted on God's promises! SPECIAL TOPIC: TERMS USED FOR TALL/POWERFUL WORRIORS OR PEOPLE GROUPS ▣ "perhaps the Lord will be with me" This is a Hebrew idiom which does not refer to lack of faith, but is rather an expression of confidence that God will act appropriately.
Josué 14:13-15
14:13 "Hebron" We learn from Jos. 21:11 that this is also a Levitical city which means that the Levitical cities were not totally inhabited by Levites. Hebron was the location of the giants who terrified the Israeli spies. Caleb, at eighty-five years of age, wanted this challenge and he believed God would help him. 14:14 "unto this day" This is another example of an editor. It is uncertain whether this editorial addition is a contemporary or later editor. 14:15 "Kiriath-arba" This city is also known as the site of the oaks of Mamre (cf. Gen. 13:18; 35:27). "Kiriath" means "a city of four" (BDB 900). Some have associated this with a confederation of four different cities or groups, while others relate it to the four different stages of the moon. "Arba" is the father of Anak, one of the giants (cf. Jos. 15:13, 21:11).