Joshua 14:1-15
Q.1. How did Joshua and Eleazar distribute the Promised Land to the tribes? Which tribes were included? What guidelines did they follow? – (Josh.14:1-5)
This chapter recorded what cities and land, within the Promised Land, were apportioned to the rest of the nine and a half tribes of Israel. All the promises made by the previous generation under Moses were honoured. Mention was again made of the Levites, whose cities and land were divided into the various tribes. Their portion was given to Joseph’s sons, Ephraim, and Manasseh – 3 For Moses had given the inheritance of the two tribes and the half-tribe beyond the Jordan; but he did not give an inheritance to the Levites among them. 4 For the sons of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh, and Ephraim, and they did not give a portion to the Levites in the land, except cities to live in, with their pasture lands for their livestock and for their property (Josh.14:3-4). Sadly, the tribe of Manasseh would be forever divided by the River Jordan. [Interestingly, the tribe of Levi will survive throughout the Great Tribulation and is recorded as having twelve thousand faithful people who are part of the one hundred and forty-four thousand, as recorded for us in Revelation].
Q.2. What appeal did Caleb make to Joshua on behalf of his tribe? How had Caleb changed? Where was his confidence? Did Joshua agree? – (Josh.14:6-15 c.f. Num.14:24,30,38)
This is the heart-warming story of Caleb from the tribe of Judah. Only he and Joshua (… old & advanced in years – Josh.13:1) survived the exodus and forty years of wilderness journeys. He clearly remembered the negative report of the ten other spies, which had had such a devastating impact on the nation – … but I followed the Lord my God fully (Josh.14:8). Now forty-five years later, at the ripe old age of eighty-five, Caleb claimed the promise that the Lord made through Moses. He was not boasting about his longevity, or his own ability to conquer – Now behold, the Lord has let me live, just as He spoke, these forty-five years, from the time that the Lord spoke this word to Moses, when Israel walked in the wilderness; and now behold, I am eighty-five years old today … perhaps the Lord will be with me, and I will drive them out as the Lord has spoken (Josh.14:10 & 12). The oldest, and perhaps the feeblest, took on the Anakim giants who had great fortified cities. He had seen enough miracles to know that -… ‘it is not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit’, says the Lord (Zech.4:6). Joshua agreed and gave Caleb’s family this difficult terrain. Then the land had rest from war and there was a time of peace. We learn different things during the times and seasons of life (Josh.14:15).