g Either 1. At that time when Joſbua and the reſt were conſulting about the diviſion of the Land, though they did nor yer aQually and fully divide it. Or, 2. When Joſbua, and himſelf, and the Iſraelites, were proceeding in their Conqueſts, and were going a- gainſt Hebron, Foſb. 10. 36, Whick Expedition there mentioned in 1 general manner, may be particularly deſcribed in this Chapter, and Joſh. 15. 13, 14. But the former ſeems more probable, becauſe this was done when Joſhua was in Gilgal, and not when he was purſiing his Enemies. +h Not ſo much to intercede for Caleb, which was not needful with Joſhua, eſpecially in a thing already promiſed by God, bur only to juſtifie and countenance him in his deſire. 7 Where the diviſion of the Land was deſigned and begun, though it was executed and finiſhed at Shiloh, Joſh. 18-1, &c. k So he is called here, and 1 Chron. 4. 15. to difference him from Caleb the Jon of Hezron, x Chron. 2.18. 1 Of the Poſterity of Kenaz, of whom ſee Judg. 1.13. 1 Chron. 4. 13, 15. 2 In general, the gracious and comfortable Promiſe he made us of poſleſſing this Land; and in particular, for my part, that which is expreſſed here, v. g. » Whoſe words therefore thou art obliged to make good.
7 Forty years old was I 0, when Moſes the ſervant of the LORD ſent me from Kadeſh-barnea to eſpy out the land, and I brought him word again, as it was in mine heart p.
o See on, Joſh.11.18. þ Iſpake my opinion ſincerely, without flattery and fear, when the other Spies were byaſſed by their own fears, and the dread of the people, to ſpeak otherwile than in their Conſciences they believed; as appears from Numb. 13. 3o, 31, 32. and 14. 36,
8 Nevertheleſs * my brethren that went up with me, *Numi, made the heart of the people melt; but I wholly * fol- 23: 3132. ;owed the LORD my God 9. _—
q Which ſelf-commendation is juſtifiable, becauſe it was neceſ- 4. 2+ ſary, as being the ground and foundation of his Petition.
9 And Moſes {ware on that day, ſaying, Surely the land whereon thy feet have trodden ſhall be thine inhe- ritance r, and thy childrens for ever, becauſe thou haſt wholly followed the LORD my God.
r See Numb. 14. 24. Deut. 1. 36.
Io Andnow behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, «x;
& x umb: as * he faid, theſe forty and five years /, even ſince the ;,. ;o. LORD ſpake this word unto Moſes, while tbe children of + Heb. iſrael + wandred in the wilderneſs: and now, lo, I an 4. this day fourſcore and five years old.
JS Whereof 38 years were ſpent in the Wilderneſs, and ſeven ſince they came into Canaan. |
11 As yet 1 amas ſtrong this day, as I was in the day that Moſes ſent me: as my ſtrength was then, even lo is my ſtrength now, for war z, both to go out,and to come In #.
t Not only for Counſel, but for Aion ; for marching and fight- ing. And therefore this gift will not be caſt away upon an unpro- fitable and unſerviceable perſon. « To perform all the Dutics be- longing to my place.
12 Now therefore give me this mountain x, whereof the LORD ſpake in that day ; (for thou heardeſt y in . that day, how the * Anakims ere there, and that the Cities were great and fenced) if ſobe the LORD wll be with me z, then I ſhall be able to drive them our « as the LORD ſaid.
x (i.e) This mountainous Countrey, in which was Hebron, Joſhe II. 21. and 20. 7. and Deber and Anab. He names the Countrey rather than the Cities, Either 1. Becauſe the Giants here following, were already driven out of their Cities, but yer abode in their Caves or Holds in the mountains, whence they much' moleſted the Iſraelites, Or, 2 Becauſe. the Cities were given to the Leviter, Joſ: 21+ 11, 13. » (7.e.) Didſtunderſtand, both by the Reports of others, and by thy own obſervation, as I alſo did. Hearinz, the ſenſe by which we get knowledge, is oft put for knowing or un- derſtanding, as Gen: 11. 7. and 42. 23. 2 Kings 18. 26. 2 A mo- deſt, and humble, and pious Expreſſion, ſignifying both the abſo- lute neceſflity of God's help, and his godly fear, leſt God for his ſins ſhould deny his Afſiſtance to him, as he mighr juſtly do; For al- though he was well aflured in general, that God would crown his people with ſucceſs 1n this War, yet he might doubt of his parti- cular ſucceſs in this or that Enterprize. &@ Out of their Faſtneſles where they yet remain. Caleb deſires this difficult work as a Tefj- mony of his own Faith, and as a Motive to quicken and encour- age his Brethren to the like attempr.
13 And Joſhua blciſed him b, and gave unto Caleb the ſon of Jephunneh, Hebron for an inheritance.
b Either 1. Prayed to God to bleſs and help him according to his own deſire. Or, 2. Acknowledged his praiſe-worthy Carriage in the matter of the Spies, and the reaſonableneſs of his Requeſt. Or, 3. Conſented to his deſire, and, as it follows, gave it to him - as God's Bleſſmg is oft put for his aual conferring of favours upon |
*Ec: 46.9,
Num:13, | 28,32, 33-
14 * Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Ca- *Chop-2 leb the ſon of Jephunneh, the Kenezite unto this day : '* becauſe thathe wholly followed theLORD God of Iſrael. |
15 And * the name of Hebron before was Kirjath- +4. 15.
Men. l
CHAP. xy, | "l
arba, which Arbs was a great man c among the Anakims: ; 3.
and the land had reft from war 4.
c In ſtature, and ſtrength, and dignity, and authority, as being | the Progenitor of ak, the father of thoſe famous Giants called 4- ; nakims, Joſh: 14. 15. d Which gave them opportunity for the di- |
ſtribution of the Land, CHAP,
*Nu-3 x Nu: 33e 3
+ Heb,
Og ues
7 Or, Boing v Acrabb1
* [Kt
I. He
| Chap.
* Nuit 33 36
+ Heb.
tnguts
$oing up
* 1 Kin I. 9s
4. EIT 7 9 yer
*Nu-34:3*
t Or, the
Arabbims
XV. CH AP. xY; |
The Borders of the Let of Judah, 112. Among thew Kirjath-arba Ca- lebs inheritance : He drives thence the three ſons of Anak ; promiſes to give his daugher in marriage to him who ſhould fmite Kirjath-ſepher ; which Othniel does, and obtains her : She requefts of her Father ſome Land for a Dowry ; which he grants, 139— — 19+ Tyecities of Judah, 20 G2. The Jebuſites could not be conquered by them, 6 3.
His then was the lot a of the tribe of the children
of Judah b by their Families, * even to the border
of Edom c 3 the * wilderneſs of Zin ſourhward was the uttermoſt part of the ſouth-coaſt. |
a For the general underſtanding of this buſineſs, it muſt be known
1. That this work of caſting Lots was tranſa&ed with great ſericul-
neſs and ſolemaity,in Gods preſence,with Prayer and Appealto him