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These are the inheritances which the children of Israel took in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers’ houses of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed to them,
Verse 1. Princes, whose names are given. Numbers 34:17. There were 12, including Josue and Eleazar. The tribes of Ruben and Gad sent none of their princes, as they were not concerned in this distribution.
by the lot of their inheritance, as the LORD commanded by Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half-tribe.
Verse 2. Tribe. God regulated the lots, as he had authorized Jacob and Moses to foretell how the country should be divided. By this method, he precluded every pretence of discontent among the tribes. Each of them drew a ticket, on which a certain portion of land was described; or perhaps in one urn the names of the tribes, and in another the lands were specified, ( Calmet.) and the tickets were drawn by two persons of irreproachable character, probably by Eleazar and Josue. Bible. Numbers 26:54.—Only the tribes of Juda and of Joseph received their portions at Galgal. Calmet. 18.
For Moses had given the inheritance of the two tribes and the half-tribe beyond the Jordan; but to the Levites he gave no inheritance among them.
For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim. They gave no portion to the Levites in the land, except cities to dwell in, with their pasture lands for their livestock and for their property.
Verse 4. Suburbs. A certain quantity of ground, which the Levites were not allowed to till or plant with vines. Grot. Numbers 35:4.—The tribe of Manasses, which was divided, fell heir to the portion which would have been allotted to Levi, who was also scattered among his brethren. Bible.—Thus Joseph obtained the birth-right of Ruben. Calmet.—Twelve portions were made, as Jacob had adopted Ephraim and Manasses. Genesis 48. Worthington.
The children of Israel did as the LORD commanded Moses, and they divided the land.
Verse 5. Land: or they were making all necessary preparations for the work, when Caleb came to remind Josue of what had been promised to him. No doubt land-measurers would be sent through the country.
Then the children of Judah came near to Joshua in Gilgal. Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know the thing that the LORD spoke to Moses the man of God concerning me and concerning you in Kadesh Barnea.
Verse 6. Jephone was the father of Caleb. Esron and Cenez probably some of his ancestors, 1 Chronicles 2:18. Numbers 33:12. What Caleb here asserts, must have been delivered by word of mouth, in the hearing of the people. Deuteronomy 1:36. Moses declared not that Caleb was to have the whole country but that he should enter into it, and possess the environs of Hebron. Calmet.
I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land. I brought him word again as it was in my heart.
Nevertheless, my brothers who went up with me made the heart of the people melt; but I wholly followed the LORD my God.
Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land where you walked shall be an inheritance to you and to your children forever, because you have wholly followed the LORD my God.’
“Now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, as he spoke, these forty-five years, from the time that the LORD spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness. Now, behold, I am eighty-five years old, today.
As yet I am as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me. As my strength was then, even so is my strength now for war, to go out and to come in.
Verse 11. March. Hebrew “to enter and to go out.” Septuagint add, “to war.”
Now therefore give me this hill country, of which the LORD spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and great and fortified cities. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall drive them out, as the LORD said.”
Verse 12. Me. He trusts not in his own strength, but in the assistance of God, which he modestly acknowledges is not due to him. Calmet.—God’s promises are indeed sure on his part; but being conditional, and the will of man being free, he adds perhaps. Worthington.
Joshua blessed him; and he gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance.
Verse 13. Blessed him, wishing him all success.—Gave him. Some think that Josue himself attacked the giants of that country with all the forces, as it is mentioned by anticipation. Calmet. 10:28. But there seems to be no need of this, as Caleb might attack them a second time with his own family and the assistance of the tribe of Juda, after they had seized those places again, while Josue was in the north. Hebron was granted to him without drawing lots. When he was besieging Cariath Sepher, he promised his daughter to the person who should first enter; and Othoniel, his brother, or nephew, obtained her in marriage. Calmet. 15:17. Judges 1:10. It seems, therefore, that this family carried on this war, as the Fabii did at Rome, without the interference of the commonwealth, though Grotius asserts the contrary. Calmet.
Therefore Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he followed the LORD, the God of Israel wholeheartedly.
Verse 14. Hebron belonged, and so forth All the country thereabouts, depending on Hebron, was given to Caleb; but the city itself, with the suburbs, was one of those that were given to the priests to dwell in. Challoner.—Caleb might also dwell, ( Calmet.) and be lord of the city, (Salien) though the profits ( Bible.) or the town belonged to the priests. Calmet. 21:11. Worthington.
Now the name of Hebron before was Kiriath Arba, after the greatest man among the Anakim. Then the land had rest from war.
Verse 15. Cariath Arbe, “the city of Arbe,” and ancient giant; or “of four,” which the Jews explain of four great patriarchs, who were buried there.—Adam, and so forth S. Jerom seems to favour the opinion that Adam was one of these, whose tomb ennobled Hebron, though many of the Fathers think he was buried on Mount Calvary. Others think that his body, or skull at least, was translated thither. But we cannot depend on any of these traditions. Most commentators explain the Hebrew “The ancient name of Hebron with Cariath Arbe; ( Calmet.) he was a man great among the Enacim.” Bible.—Adam is often put for a man in general, 2 Kennicott. 7:19. Ose. 11:4. Calmet. Amama.—Septuagint “the city of Arbo. This was the metropolis of the Enacim.” Bible.—Wars, for a time, particularly from such wars as engaged the attention of all Israel. The different tribes had to encounter and drive out the Chanaanites who might be left in their respective districts. Calmet.