Joshua 14 Study Notes: Caleb Claims Hebron
The division of Canaan by lot begins under Eleazar and Joshua, with the Levites receiving towns instead of territory. Caleb, now eighty-five, reminds Joshua of the promise made to him for his faithfulness at Kadesh-barnea, asks for the hill country of the giant Anakim, and receives Hebron.
General
How does Caleb contrast himself with the other scouts who went with him (14:7-8)?
Answer: They made the people afraid; he stayed true to God
Caleb says he was forty when Moses sent him out from Kadesh-barnea, and that he brought back a truthful report. The other scouts terrified the people, but he stayed faithful to the LORD his God (14:7-8). Numbers shows what happened: Caleb calmed the crowd and urged an immediate advance to seize the land (Numbers 13:30), while his companions insisted Israel could not win (Numbers 13:31). Moses later recalls that the people complained that their brothers had made their hearts faint (Deuteronomy 1:28). Caleb and Joshua had pleaded with Israel not to rebel or fear, because the LORD was with them (Numbers 14:9).
- Joshua 14:7-8 (BSB)“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 back to him an honest report. Although my brothers who went with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear, I remained loyal to the LORD my God.”Caleb recalls his honest report at forty and his loyalty to the LORD while the others spread fear.
- Numbers 13:30 (BSB)“Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “We must go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly conquer it!””Caleb quieted the people and urged them to go up and take the land.
- Numbers 13:31 (BSB)“But the men who had gone up with him replied, “We cannot go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are!””The other scouts said Israel could not go up against the people.
- Deuteronomy 1:28 (BSB)“Where can we go? Our brothers have made our hearts melt, saying: ‘The people are larger and taller than we are; the cities are large, with walls up to the heavens. We even saw the descendants of the Anakim there.’””Moses recalls the people saying their brothers had made their hearts melt.
- Numbers 14:9 (BSB)“Only do not rebel against the LORD, and do not be afraid of the people of the land, for they will be like bread for us. Their protection has been removed, and the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them!””Joshua and Caleb urged Israel not to rebel or fear, because the LORD was with them.
Theological
What contrast does Caleb draw between his own conduct and that of his fellow scouts (14:7-8)?
Answer: They made the people afraid; he stayed true to God
Caleb, forty at the time, describes his report as honest and sets his loyalty to the LORD against the other scouts, who drained the people's courage (14:7-8). The Numbers account confirms the contrast: Caleb urged immediate conquest (Numbers 13:30) while his companions declared it impossible (Numbers 13:31), and Moses recalls the people saying their brothers had disheartened them (Deuteronomy 1:28). Caleb's confidence rested on the LORD's presence, not Israel's strength (Numbers 14:9).
- Joshua 14:7-8 (BSB)“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 back to him an honest report. Although my brothers who went with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear, I remained loyal to the LORD my God.”Caleb recalls his honest report at forty and his loyalty to the LORD while the others spread fear.
- Numbers 13:30 (BSB)“Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “We must go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly conquer it!””Caleb quieted the people and urged them to go up and take the land.
- Numbers 13:31 (BSB)“But the men who had gone up with him replied, “We cannot go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are!””The other scouts said Israel could not go up against the people.
- Deuteronomy 1:28 (BSB)“Where can we go? Our brothers have made our hearts melt, saying: ‘The people are larger and taller than we are; the cities are large, with walls up to the heavens. We even saw the descendants of the Anakim there.’””Moses recalls the people saying their brothers had made their hearts melt.
- Numbers 14:9 (BSB)“Only do not rebel against the LORD, and do not be afraid of the people of the land, for they will be like bread for us. Their protection has been removed, and the LORD is with us. Do not be afraid of them!””Joshua and Caleb urged Israel not to rebel or fear, because the LORD was with them.
General
When Caleb came to Joshua at Gilgal, what did he first remind Joshua of (14:6)?
Answer: The LORD's word to Moses about them at Kadesh-barnea
Caleb came to Joshua at Gilgal with the men of Judah and reminded him of what the LORD once told Moses about the two of them back at Kadesh-barnea (14:6). Caleb had gone out as the scout representing Judah (Numbers 13:6), and Joshua had been his fellow scout. After the people refused to enter the land, the LORD declared that none of that generation would enter it except Caleb and Joshua (Numbers 14:30), and of all the scouts only these two survived (Numbers 14:38). Joshua had heard that promise firsthand, so Caleb could appeal to it directly.
- Joshua 14:6 (BSB)“Then the sons 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.”Caleb reminds Joshua of what the LORD said to Moses at Kadesh-barnea about the two of them.
- Numbers 13:6 (BSB)“from the tribe of Judah, Caleb son of Jephunneh;”Caleb was the scout chosen from the tribe of Judah.
- Numbers 14:30 (BSB)“Surely none of you will enter the land in which I swore to settle you, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.”The LORD said none of that generation would enter the land except Caleb and Joshua.
- Numbers 14:38 (BSB)“Of those men who had gone to spy out the land, only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh remained alive.”Of the men who scouted the land, only Joshua and Caleb survived.
Theological
On what basis does Caleb open his appeal to Joshua at Gilgal (14:6)?
Answer: The LORD's word to Moses about them at Kadesh-barnea
Caleb's appeal at Gilgal, with the men of Judah beside him, rests on the word the LORD spoke to Moses at Kadesh-barnea concerning Joshua and himself (14:6). Caleb had served as Judah's representative among the scouts (Numbers 13:6). When the congregation rebelled, the LORD excluded that whole generation from the land except these two (Numbers 14:30), and only they survived among the scouts (Numbers 14:38). Caleb therefore grounds his request in a promise both men had witnessed.
- Joshua 14:6 (BSB)“Then the sons 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.”Caleb reminds Joshua of what the LORD said to Moses at Kadesh-barnea about the two of them.
- Numbers 13:6 (BSB)“from the tribe of Judah, Caleb son of Jephunneh;”Caleb was the scout chosen from the tribe of Judah.
- Numbers 14:30 (BSB)“Surely none of you will enter the land in which I swore to settle you, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.”The LORD said none of that generation would enter the land except Caleb and Joshua.
- Numbers 14:38 (BSB)“Of those men who had gone to spy out the land, only Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh remained alive.”Of the men who scouted the land, only Joshua and Caleb survived.
General
What does Caleb say about his age and strength (14:10-11)?
Answer: He is eighty-five and as strong as at forty
Caleb says the LORD kept him alive, as He had promised, for forty-five years after that word was spoken, through all of Israel's wandering in the desert. Now he is eighty-five, yet as strong for battle and daily work as when Moses first sent him out at forty (14:10-11). His survival itself was God's faithfulness: the LORD had said the bodies of that whole generation would fall in the wilderness, except Caleb and Joshua (Numbers 14:29-30), and by the time of the second census none were left but these two (Numbers 26:65). Scripture describes the righteous as still bearing fruit in old age (Psalm 92:14).
- Joshua 14:10-11 (BSB)“Now behold, as the LORD promised, He has kept me alive these forty-five years since He spoke this word to Moses, while Israel wandered in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old, still as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me out. As my strength was then, so it is now for war, for going out, and for coming in.”Caleb says the LORD kept him alive forty-five years and he is as strong at eighty-five as at forty.
- Numbers 14:29-30 (BSB)“Your bodies will fall in this wilderness—all who were numbered in the census, everyone twenty years of age or older—because you have grumbled against Me. Surely none of you will enter the land in which I swore to settle you, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.”The LORD sentenced that generation to die in the wilderness except Caleb and Joshua.
- Numbers 26:65 (BSB)“For the LORD had told them that they would surely die in the wilderness. Not one was left except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.”The second census found none of the old generation left except Caleb and Joshua.
- Psalm 92:14 (BSB)“In old age they will still bear fruit; healthy and green they will remain,”The righteous still bear fruit in old age.
Theological
How does Caleb describe his present age and vigor (14:10-11)?
Answer: He is eighty-five and as strong as at forty
Caleb credits his survival to the LORD's promise: God preserved him through forty-five years of wilderness wandering, and at eighty-five he retains the strength he had at forty for war and for the ordinary business of life (14:10-11). His preservation is itself covenant faithfulness, since the whole adult generation was sentenced to perish in the desert with the exception of Caleb and Joshua (Numbers 14:29-30), a sentence the second census shows carried out (Numbers 26:65). The psalmist speaks of the righteous remaining fruitful in old age (Psalm 92:14).
- Joshua 14:10-11 (BSB)“Now behold, as the LORD promised, He has kept me alive these forty-five years since He spoke this word to Moses, while Israel wandered in the wilderness. So here I am today, eighty-five years old, still as strong today as I was the day Moses sent me out. As my strength was then, so it is now for war, for going out, and for coming in.”Caleb says the LORD kept him alive forty-five years and he is as strong at eighty-five as at forty.
- Numbers 14:29-30 (BSB)“Your bodies will fall in this wilderness—all who were numbered in the census, everyone twenty years of age or older—because you have grumbled against Me. Surely none of you will enter the land in which I swore to settle you, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.”The LORD sentenced that generation to die in the wilderness except Caleb and Joshua.
- Numbers 26:65 (BSB)“For the LORD had told them that they would surely die in the wilderness. Not one was left except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.”The second census found none of the old generation left except Caleb and Joshua.
- Psalm 92:14 (BSB)“In old age they will still bear fruit; healthy and green they will remain,”The righteous still bear fruit in old age.
General
Who distributed the land in Canaan among the tribes, and how was each share decided (14:1-2)?
Answer: Eleazar, Joshua, and the family heads, by lot
The land in Canaan was handed out by three parties, the priest Eleazar, Joshua, and the leaders of the tribal families, and each tribe's share was decided by lot, following the LORD's instruction given through Moses (14:1-2). Casting lots was a way of letting God make the choice rather than human preference. The LORD had named Eleazar and Joshua for this task while Moses was still alive (Numbers 34:17) and had ordered that the land be apportioned by lot (Numbers 26:55). Scripture teaches that although people throw the lot, every decision it gives comes from the LORD (Proverbs 16:33). The people then carried out that instruction (14:5).
- Joshua 14:1-2 (BSB)“Now these are the portions that the Israelites inherited in the land of Canaan, as distributed by Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the families of the tribes of Israel. Their inheritance was assigned by lot for the nine and a half tribes, as the LORD had commanded through Moses.”Eleazar, Joshua, and the family heads distribute the land by lot as the LORD commanded through Moses.
- Joshua 14:5 (BSB)“So the Israelites did as the LORD had commanded Moses, and they divided the land.”The Israelites do as the LORD commanded Moses and divide the land.
- Numbers 34:17 (BSB)““These are the names of the men who are to assign the land as an inheritance for you: Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun.”The LORD had named Eleazar and Joshua as the men to assign the land.
- Numbers 26:55 (BSB)“Indeed, the land must be divided by lot; they shall receive their inheritance according to the names of the tribes of their fathers.”The LORD had commanded that the land be divided by lot.
- Proverbs 16:33 (BSB)“The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.”Every decision of the lot comes from the LORD.
Theological
According to 14:1-2, who administered the western allotment, and by what means?
Answer: Eleazar, Joshua, and the family heads, by lot
The allotment was administered jointly by the priest Eleazar, Joshua, and the tribal family leaders, with each portion determined by lot according to the LORD's instruction through Moses (14:1-2). Both the officials and the method had been fixed in advance: Eleazar and Joshua were named in Numbers 34:17, and division by lot was ordained in Numbers 26:55. The lot placed each tribe's inheritance under God's sovereign disposal rather than human negotiation (Proverbs 16:33), and Israel complied fully (14:5).
- Joshua 14:1-2 (BSB)“Now these are the portions that the Israelites inherited in the land of Canaan, as distributed by Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the families of the tribes of Israel. Their inheritance was assigned by lot for the nine and a half tribes, as the LORD had commanded through Moses.”Eleazar, Joshua, and the family heads distribute the land by lot as the LORD commanded through Moses.
- Joshua 14:5 (BSB)“So the Israelites did as the LORD had commanded Moses, and they divided the land.”The Israelites do as the LORD commanded Moses and divide the land.
- Numbers 34:17 (BSB)““These are the names of the men who are to assign the land as an inheritance for you: Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun.”The LORD had named Eleazar and Joshua as the men to assign the land.
- Numbers 26:55 (BSB)“Indeed, the land must be divided by lot; they shall receive their inheritance according to the names of the tribes of their fathers.”The LORD had commanded that the land be divided by lot.
- Proverbs 16:33 (BSB)“The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.”Every decision of the lot comes from the LORD.
General
What did Caleb ask Joshua to give him (14:12)?
Answer: The hill country where the Anakim held strong cities
Caleb asked for the hill country the LORD had promised him, even though, as Joshua himself had heard, the Anakim lived there in large fortified cities (14:12). The Anakim were a people famous for their great size, the very people the scouts had reported living in strong, fortified cities forty-five years earlier (Numbers 13:28), a people whose strength was proverbial (Deuteronomy 9:2). Caleb did not trust in his own vigor; he said that he hoped the LORD would help him expel them, just as God had spoken. Joshua blessed him and granted him Hebron, formerly named Kiriath-arba after the greatest of the Anakim (14:13-15). Judges later confirms that Caleb received Hebron in keeping with Moses' promise and expelled Anak's descendants (Judges 1:20).
- Joshua 14:12 (BSB)“Now therefore give me this hill country that the LORD promised me on that day, for you yourself heard then that the Anakim were there, with great and fortified cities. Perhaps with the LORD’s help I will drive them out, as the LORD has spoken.””Caleb asks for the hill country of the Anakim, trusting the LORD's help.
- Joshua 14:13-15 (BSB)“Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. Therefore Hebron belongs to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite as an inheritance to this day, because he wholly followed the LORD, the God of Israel. (Hebron used to be called Kiriath-arba, after Arba, the greatest man among the Anakim.) Then the land had rest from war.”Joshua blesses Caleb and gives him Hebron, once named for the greatest of the Anakim.
- Numbers 13:28 (BSB)“Nevertheless, the people living in the land are strong, and the cities are large and fortified. We even saw the descendants of Anak there.”The scouts had reported the strong people, the fortified cities, and the descendants of Anak.
- Deuteronomy 9:2 (BSB)“The people are strong and tall, the descendants of the Anakim. You know about them, and you have heard it said, “Who can stand up to the sons of Anak?””The Anakim were known as strong and tall, so that people asked who could stand against them.
- Judges 1:20 (BSB)“Just as Moses had promised, Judah gave Hebron to Caleb, who drove out the descendants of the three sons of Anak.”Judges records that Caleb received Hebron and drove out the descendants of Anak.
Theological
What territory did Caleb request from Joshua in 14:12?
Answer: The hill country where the Anakim held strong cities
Caleb requested the very hill country promised him, fully aware that the Anakim occupied it with great fortified cities (14:12). These were the giants whose report had broken Israel's nerve at Kadesh (Numbers 13:28; Deuteronomy 9:2). His confidence was in the LORD's help and word rather than his own strength, and Joshua blessed him with Hebron, once Kiriath-arba, named for the mightiest of the Anakim (14:13-15). Judges 1:20 records the fulfillment: Caleb received Hebron as Moses promised and drove out Anak's descendants.
- Joshua 14:12 (BSB)“Now therefore give me this hill country that the LORD promised me on that day, for you yourself heard then that the Anakim were there, with great and fortified cities. Perhaps with the LORD’s help I will drive them out, as the LORD has spoken.””Caleb asks for the hill country of the Anakim, trusting the LORD's help.
- Joshua 14:13-15 (BSB)“Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. Therefore Hebron belongs to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite as an inheritance to this day, because he wholly followed the LORD, the God of Israel. (Hebron used to be called Kiriath-arba, after Arba, the greatest man among the Anakim.) Then the land had rest from war.”Joshua blesses Caleb and gives him Hebron, once named for the greatest of the Anakim.
- Numbers 13:28 (BSB)“Nevertheless, the people living in the land are strong, and the cities are large and fortified. We even saw the descendants of Anak there.”The scouts had reported the strong people, the fortified cities, and the descendants of Anak.
- Deuteronomy 9:2 (BSB)“The people are strong and tall, the descendants of the Anakim. You know about them, and you have heard it said, “Who can stand up to the sons of Anak?””The Anakim were known as strong and tall, so that people asked who could stand against them.
- Judges 1:20 (BSB)“Just as Moses had promised, Judah gave Hebron to Caleb, who drove out the descendants of the three sons of Anak.”Judges records that Caleb received Hebron and drove out the descendants of Anak.
General
True or False: The Levites received no tribal territory, only towns to live in with pasture around them for their animals.
Answer: True
This is true. The Levites, the tribe set apart for the LORD's service, received no share of the land except towns to live in, with pasture for their livestock (14:3-4). The LORD had instructed through Moses that the other tribes give the Levites such towns and pasturelands from their own inheritance (Numbers 35:2), and later chapters record forty-eight of these towns scattered among the tribes (21:41). In the same breath the text explains that Joseph's descendants counted as two tribes, Ephraim and Manasseh, as Jacob had counted Joseph's two sons as his own (Genesis 48:5).
- Joshua 14:3-4 (BSB)“For Moses had given the inheritance east of the Jordan to the other two and a half tribes. But he granted no inheritance among them to the Levites. The descendants of Joseph became two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim. And no portion of the land was given to the Levites, except for cities in which to live, along with pasturelands for their flocks and herds.”The Levites receive no land portion except towns to live in with pasturelands; Joseph's descendants are two tribes.
- Numbers 35:2 (BSB)““Command the Israelites to give, from the inheritance they will possess, cities for the Levites to live in and pasturelands around the cities.”The LORD commanded the tribes to give the Levites towns and pasturelands from their inheritance.
- Joshua 21:41 (BSB)“For the Levites, then, there were forty-eight cities in all, together with their pasturelands, within the territory of the Israelites.”The Levites eventually received forty-eight towns with pasturelands within Israel's territory.
- Genesis 48:5 (BSB)“And now your two sons born to you in Egypt before I came to you here shall be reckoned as mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine.”Jacob counted Ephraim and Manasseh as his own sons, so Joseph's line became two tribes.
Theological
True or False: According to 14:3-4, the Levites were granted no territorial portion beyond towns to dwell in with surrounding pastureland for their livestock.
Answer: True
This is true. Levi received no territorial allotment, only towns to inhabit with pastureland for their herds (14:3-4). This followed the Mosaic command that the tribes give the Levites towns and pasturelands out of their own portions (Numbers 35:2), eventually forty-eight in all, dispersed through Israel (21:41). The same verse notes that Joseph's line formed two tribes, Ephraim and Manasseh, reflecting Jacob's adoption of Joseph's sons as his own (Genesis 48:5).
- Joshua 14:3-4 (BSB)“For Moses had given the inheritance east of the Jordan to the other two and a half tribes. But he granted no inheritance among them to the Levites. The descendants of Joseph became two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim. And no portion of the land was given to the Levites, except for cities in which to live, along with pasturelands for their flocks and herds.”The Levites receive no land portion except towns to live in with pasturelands; Joseph's descendants are two tribes.
- Numbers 35:2 (BSB)““Command the Israelites to give, from the inheritance they will possess, cities for the Levites to live in and pasturelands around the cities.”The LORD commanded the tribes to give the Levites towns and pasturelands from their inheritance.
- Joshua 21:41 (BSB)“For the Levites, then, there were forty-eight cities in all, together with their pasturelands, within the territory of the Israelites.”The Levites eventually received forty-eight towns with pasturelands within Israel's territory.
- Genesis 48:5 (BSB)“And now your two sons born to you in Egypt before I came to you here shall be reckoned as mine; Ephraim and Manasseh shall be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine.”Jacob counted Ephraim and Manasseh as his own sons, so Joseph's line became two tribes.
General
What reason does Moses' oath to Caleb give for his inheritance, a reason the text repeats in 14:14?
Answer: He had followed the LORD with all his heart
Caleb recalls that Moses swore that the land Caleb's feet had walked on would belong to him and his children forever, because he had followed the LORD completely (14:9). When Hebron becomes his, the text gives the very same reason (14:14). Numbers records the LORD's own words: because Caleb had a different spirit, following Him fully, he would enter the land he had explored and his descendants would inherit it (Numbers 14:24). Moses later recalled the LORD's angry oath that none of the men aged twenty and up who had left Egypt would see the land except Caleb and Joshua, for these two had been fully devoted to the LORD (Numbers 32:11-12), and he repeated the promise about the land Caleb had walked (Deuteronomy 1:36). Caleb's whole-hearted loyalty did not buy the land; it was the fruit of faith in God's promise, the very faith the rest of that generation lacked (Hebrews 3:19).
- Joshua 14:9 (BSB)“On that day Moses swore to me, saying, ‘Surely the land on which you have set foot will be an inheritance to you and your children forever, because you have wholly followed the LORD my God.’”Caleb recalls Moses' oath that the land would be his and his children's because he followed the LORD fully.
- Joshua 14:14 (BSB)“Therefore Hebron belongs to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite as an inheritance to this day, because he wholly followed the LORD, the God of Israel.”The narrator gives Caleb's whole-hearted following as the reason Hebron is his.
- Numbers 14:24 (BSB)“But because My servant Caleb has a different spirit and has followed Me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he has entered, and his descendants will inherit it.”The LORD said Caleb would enter the land because he had a different spirit and followed Him fully.
- Numbers 32:11-12 (BSB)“‘Because they did not follow Me wholeheartedly, not one of the men twenty years of age or older who came out of Egypt will see the land that I swore to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob— not one except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun—because they did follow the LORD wholeheartedly.’”The LORD's oath excluded that generation from the land except Caleb and Joshua, who followed Him fully.
- Deuteronomy 1:36 (BSB)“except Caleb son of Jephunneh. He will see it, and I will give him and his descendants the land on which he has set foot, because he followed the LORD wholeheartedly.””Moses repeats the promise that Caleb would receive the land he had set foot on.
- Hebrews 3:19 (BSB)“So we see that it was because of their unbelief that they were unable to enter.”The rest of that generation could not enter because of unbelief.
Theological
What ground for Caleb's inheritance is given in Moses' oath (14:9) and restated by the narrator (14:14)?
Answer: He had followed the LORD with all his heart
Moses' oath, as Caleb recalls it, promised Caleb and his offspring the ground he had trodden as a lasting inheritance because of his complete devotion to the LORD (14:9), and the narrator repeats that ground when Hebron is assigned (14:14). The LORD Himself had singled Caleb out for his different spirit and full allegiance (Numbers 14:24), and His oath against the exodus generation excepted Caleb and Joshua for this same reason (Numbers 32:11-12; cf. Deuteronomy 1:36). Caleb's devotion was not a price paid for the land but the fruit and evidence of faith in God's promise; the others fell short through unbelief (Hebrews 3:19), while Caleb's trust showed itself in obedience.
- Joshua 14:9 (BSB)“On that day Moses swore to me, saying, ‘Surely the land on which you have set foot will be an inheritance to you and your children forever, because you have wholly followed the LORD my God.’”Caleb recalls Moses' oath that the land would be his and his children's because he followed the LORD fully.
- Joshua 14:14 (BSB)“Therefore Hebron belongs to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite as an inheritance to this day, because he wholly followed the LORD, the God of Israel.”The narrator gives Caleb's whole-hearted following as the reason Hebron is his.
- Numbers 14:24 (BSB)“But because My servant Caleb has a different spirit and has followed Me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he has entered, and his descendants will inherit it.”The LORD said Caleb would enter the land because he had a different spirit and followed Him fully.
- Numbers 32:11-12 (BSB)“‘Because they did not follow Me wholeheartedly, not one of the men twenty years of age or older who came out of Egypt will see the land that I swore to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob— not one except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun—because they did follow the LORD wholeheartedly.’”The LORD's oath excluded that generation from the land except Caleb and Joshua, who followed Him fully.
- Deuteronomy 1:36 (BSB)“except Caleb son of Jephunneh. He will see it, and I will give him and his descendants the land on which he has set foot, because he followed the LORD wholeheartedly.””Moses repeats the promise that Caleb would receive the land he had set foot on.
- Hebrews 3:19 (BSB)“So we see that it was because of their unbelief that they were unable to enter.”The rest of that generation could not enter because of unbelief.