The first land given to Israel is East of the Jordan, the land of the Amorites, Gilead which was taken by Israel as Moses lead them toward the land of Canaan. Reuben and Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh received their inheritance before Israel crossed the Jordan. And then it was time to divide the inheritance West of the Jordan for the rest of the tribes. This was done by lot which indicated God’s choice for each tribe. But first, Caleb has a claim in Joshua 14:7–9 I was forty years old when Moses Yahweh’s servant sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land, and I returned with an honest report. And because of that, Moses had promised him an inheritance, so Caleb declares, in Joshua 14:10 “look, Yahweh has kept me alive just as he promised these forty-five years … look, today I am eighty-five years old” and in Joshua 14:11 “today I am still strong” and then in Joshua 14:12 “give me this hill country … Perhaps Yahweh is with me, and I will drive them out”. Caleb is still a man of faith and the first to take up the challenge of totally possessing the land. Even now, Caleb is declaring the fulfillment of God’s promise “I will drive them out”.
Inheritance to the Tribe of Reuben
Joshua 13:15–23
The descendants of Reuben are mentioned first in the division of the land and even though Joshua was leading them, it had been Moses that gave this inheritance in Numbers 32:33 as recorded here in
Joshua 13:15 Moses gave an inheritance to the tribe of the descendants of Reuben according to their families.
We understand that the Amorites had been dispossessed as God had promised Abram in Genesis 15:18-21 and, there was one more that was also removed from the land because of his divination, in
Joshua 13:22 In addition to their slain, the Israelites killed with the sword Balaam son of Beor, who practiced divination.
Inheritance to the Tribe of Gad
Joshua 13:24–28
Inheritance to the Half-Tribe of Manasseh
The Israelites Inherited in the Land of Canaan
Joshua 14:1–5
Now, the inheritance record turns to the land West of the Jordan river in
Joshua 14:1 These are the territories that the Israelites inherited in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the families of the tribes of the Israelites gave as an inheritance to them.
The division of the land, the selection of a tribe for a section of land, was done by lot in
Joshua 14:2 Their inheritance was by lot, just as Yahweh commanded through the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes and the half-tribe.
It isn’t clear how the land was divided into portions, however, “The practice of casting lots was never condemned by God and in fact on several occasions was sanctioned by him (Lv 16:8; Prv 18:18; Is 34:17). The principle behind the procedure is set forth in Proverbs 16:33, which affirms that the disposition or result of the lot is determined by God”.1
In many situations, Israel was representative in their government and the people had a voice in what was done, but in decisions like this where everyone would want the best land and no one would want the dry or barren land, it was important to have a clear and decisive answer. Here, the lot was the word of the Lord, their was no disputing or questioning.
Now Give Me This Hill Country
Joshua 14:6–15
Before the land West of the Jordan is divided, Caleb has a claim. Joshua and Caleb were the two spies that came back to Moses with a good report and now Caleb speaks up to assert his claim in
Joshua 14:7–9 I was forty years old when Moses Yahweh’s servant sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land, and I returned with an honest report. 8 My companions who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt, but I remained true to Yahweh my God. 9 And Moses swore on that day, saying, ‘Surely the land that your foot has trodden on will be an inheritance to you and your sons forever, because you remained true to Yahweh my God.’
The Lord has called Joshua “old”, “advanced in years” and has Joshua pass on the remaining work of possessing the land. But Caleb says “look, Yahweh has kept me alive just as he promised these forty-five years … look, today I am eighty-five years old” in Joshua 14:10 and then Caleb says “today I am still strong” in Joshua 14:11 and then “give me this hill country … Perhaps Yahweh is with me, and I will drive them out” in Joshua 14:11. So Joshua honors this man of faith, this man that still believes he can overcome even in his old age in
Joshua 14:13 And Joshua blessed him and gave Hebron to Caleb son of Jephunneh as an inheritance.
Study Verses
- Joshua 13:15–23 Inheritance to the Tribe of Reuben
- Joshua 14:1–5 The Israelites Inherited in the Land of Canaan
- Joshua 14:6–15 Now Give Me This Hill Country
Today’s Reading
- Joshua 13:15-33
- Joshua 14:1-15
References
- 1. Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. (1988). Lots, Casting Of. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible (Vol. 2, pp. 1356–1357). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.