Commentary on Joshua

1These are the territories which the children of Israel received as an inheritance, in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the tribes of the children of Israel, delivered to them, for an inheritance,

2By the lot of their inheritance, as Jehovah had commanded by the hand of Moses, to give to the nine tribes and the half tribe.

3For Moses had given to the two tribes and to the half tribe beyond the Jordan. But he had not given to the Levites an inheritance in the midst of them.

4For the sons of Joseph were the two tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim: accordingly they did not give a portion to the Levites in the land except cities to dwell in, and the suburbs of them for their herds and flocks.

5As Moses had commanded, so did the children of Israel, and they divided the land.

6And the children of Judah came near to Joshua in Gilgal, and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said to him, Thou knowest the word which Jehovah spoke to Moses the man of God, concerning me and concerning thee in Cades-barnea.

7I was forty years old when Moses the servant of Jehovah sent me from Cades-Barnea to explore the land, and I reported the matter to him as it was in my heart.

8And when my brethren who had come down with me melted the heart of the people, I perseveringly followed Jehovah my God.

9And Moses swear on that day, saying, Surely the land which thy foot has trod shall be thine for an inheritance, and to thy children for ever, because thou has perseveringly followed Jehovah thy God.

10And now Jehovah has granted me life as he had said. Forty-five years have elapsed since the time when the Lord declared this matter to Moses, and since Israel has walked through the desert: and now, indeed, this day am I eighty-five years of age.

11And still am I this day vigorous as on that day on which Moses sent me; as great as my vigor was then, so great is my vigor this day for battle, both for going out and coming in.

12Now, therefore, give me that mountain, as Jehovah spoke on that day, For thou did hear on that day that the Anakim are there, and cities great and fortified: perhaps Jehovah will be with me, and I shall drive them out, as Jehovah said.

13And Joshua blessed him, and gave Hebron to Caleb himself the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance.

14Therefore has Hebron belonged to Caleb himself the son of Jephunneh, the Kenezite for an inheritance unto this day, because he perseveringly followed Jehovah, the God of Israel.

15Now the name of Hebron was formerly Ciriath-arba, which Arba was a great man among the Anakim, and the land rested from war.