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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>J O S H U A</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XIV.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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Here is,
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I. The general method that was taken in dividing the land,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+14:1-5">ver. 1-5</A>.
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II. The demand Caleb made of Hebron, as his by promise, and
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therefore not to be put into the lot with the rest,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+14:6-12">ver. 6-12</A>.
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And Joshua's grant of that demand,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+14:13-15">ver. 13-15</A>.
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This was done at Gilgal, which was as yet their head-quarters.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Jos14_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos14_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos14_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos14_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos14_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Distribution of Canaan.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1444.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And these <I>are the countries</I> which the children of Israel
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inherited in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, and
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Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes
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of the children of Israel, distributed for inheritance to them.
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2 By lot <I>was</I> their inheritance, as the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> commanded by the
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hand of Moses, for the nine tribes, and <I>for</I> the half tribe.
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3 For Moses had given the inheritance of two tribes and a half
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tribe on the other side Jordan: but unto the Levites he gave none
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inheritance among them.
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4 For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and
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Ephraim: therefore they gave no part unto the Levites in the
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land, save cities to dwell <I>in,</I> with their suburbs for their
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cattle and for their substance.
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5 As the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did,
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and they divided the land.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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The historian, having in the foregoing chapter given an account of the
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disposal of the countries on the other side Jordan, now comes to tell
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us what they did with the countries in the land of Canaan. They were
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not conquered to be left desert, <I>a habitation for dragons, and a
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court for owls,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+34:13">Isa. xxxiv. 13</A>.
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No, the Israelites that had hitherto been closely encamped in a body,
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and the greatest part of them such as never knew any other way of
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living, must now disperse themselves to replenish these new conquests.
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It is said of the earth, <I>God created it not in vain; he formed it to
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be inhabited,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+45:18">Isa. xlv. 18</A>.
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Canaan would have been subdued in vain if it had not been inhabited.
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Yet every man might not go and settle where he pleased, but as there
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seems to have been in the days of Peleg an orderly and regular division
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of the habitable earth among the sons of Noah
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+10:25,32">Gen. x. 25, 32</A>),
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so there was now such a division of the land of Canaan among the sons
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of Jacob. God had given Moses directions how this distribution should
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be made, and those directions are here punctually observed. See
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+26:53-56">Num. xxvi. 53</A>,
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&c.</P>
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<P>
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I. The managers of this great affair were Joshua the chief magistrate,
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Eleazar the chief priest, and ten princes, one of each of the tribes
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that were now to have their inheritance, whom God himself had nominated
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+34:17-29">Num. xxxiv. 17</A>,
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&c.) some years before; and, it should seem, they were all
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now in being, and attended this service, that every tribe, having a
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representative of its own, might be satisfied that there was fair
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dealing, and might the more contentedly sit down by its lot.</P>
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<P>
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II. The tribes among whom this dividend was to be made were nine and a
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half.
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1. Not the two and a half that were already seated
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+13:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>),
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though perhaps now that they saw what a good land Canaan was, and how
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effectually it was subdued, they might some of them repent their
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choice, and wish they had now been to have their lot with their
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brethren, upon which condition they would gladly have given up what
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they had on the other side Jordan; but it could not be admitted: they
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had made their election without power of revocation, and so must their
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doom be; they themselves have decided it, and they must adhere to their
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choice.
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2. Not the tribe of Levi; this was to be otherwise provided for. God
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had distinguished them from, and dignified them above, the other
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tribes, and they must not now mingle themselves with them, nor cast in
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their lot among them, for this would entangle them in the affairs of
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this life, which would not consist with a due attendance on their
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sacred function. But,
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3. Joseph made two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim, pursuant to Jacob's
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adoption of Joseph's two sons, and so the number of the tribes was kept
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up to twelve, though Levi was taken out, which is intimated here
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+13:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>):
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<I>The children of Joseph were two tribes, therefore they gave no part
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to Levi,</I> they being twelve without them.</P>
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<P>
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III. The rule by which they went was the lot,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+13:2"><I>v.</I> 2</A>.
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<I>The disposal</I> of that is <I>of the Lord,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+16:33">Prov. xvi. 33</A>.
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It was here used in an affair of weight, and which could not otherwise
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be accommodated to universal satisfaction, and it was used in a solemn
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religious manner as an appeal to God, by consent of parties. In
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dividing by lot,
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1. They referred themselves to God, and to his wisdom and sovereignty,
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believing him fitter to determine for them than they for themselves.
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+47:4">Ps. xlvii. 4</A>,
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<I>He shall choose our inheritance for us.</I>
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2. They professed a willingness to abide by the determination of it;
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for every man must take what is his lot, and make the best of it. In
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allusion to this we are said to <I>obtain an inheritance in Christ</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Eph+1:11">Eph. i. 11</A>),
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<B><I>eklerothemen</I></B>--<I>we have obtained it by lot,</I> so the
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word signified; for it is obtained by a divine designation. Christ, our
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Joshua, gives eternal life to <I>as many as were given him,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+17:2">John xvii. 2</A>.</P>
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<A NAME="Jos14_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos14_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos14_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos14_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos14_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos14_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos14_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos14_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos14_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Jos14_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Caleb's Request.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1444.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>6 Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and
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Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou
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knowest the thing that the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> said unto Moses the man of God
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concerning me and thee in Kadeshbarnea.
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7 Forty years old <I>was</I> I when Moses the servant of the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>
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sent me from Kadeshbarnea to espy out the land; and I brought him
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word again as <I>it was</I> in mine heart.
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8 Nevertheless my brethren that went up with me made the heart
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of the people melt: but I wholly followed the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> my God.
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9 And Moses sware on that day, saying, Surely the land whereon
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thy feet have trodden shall be thine inheritance, and thy
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children's for ever, because thou hast wholly followed the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT>
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my God.
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10 And now, behold, the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> hath kept me alive, as he said,
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these forty and five years, even since the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> spake this word
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unto Moses, while <I>the children of</I> Israel wandered in the
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wilderness: and now, lo, I <I>am</I> this day fourscore and five years
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old.
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11 As yet I <I>am as</I> strong this day as <I>I was</I> in the day that
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Moses sent me: as my strength <I>was</I> then, even so <I>is</I> my
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strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in.
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12 Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> spake
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in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims <I>were</I>
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there, and <I>that</I> the cities <I>were</I> great <I>and</I> fenced: if so be
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the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> <I>will be</I> with me, then I shall be able to drive them
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out, as the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> said.
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13 And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of
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Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance.
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14 Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of
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Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly
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followed the L<FONT SIZE=-1><B>ORD</B></FONT> God of Israel.
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15 And the name of Hebron before <I>was</I> Kirjatharba; <I>which Arba
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was</I> a great man among the Anakims. And the land had rest from
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war.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Before the lot was cast into the lap for the determining of the
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portions of the respective tribes, the particular portion of Caleb was
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assigned to him. He was now, except Joshua, not only the oldest man in
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all Israel, but was twenty years older than any of them, for all that
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were above twenty years old when he was forty were dead in the
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wilderness; it was fit therefore that this phoenix of his age should
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have some particular marks of honour put upon him in the dividing of
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the land. Now,</P>
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<P>
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I. Caleb here presents his petition, or rather makes his demand, to
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have Hebron given him for a possession (<I>this mountain</I> he calls
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it,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+13:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>),
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and not to have that put into the lot with the other parts of the
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country. To justify his demand, he shows that God had long since, by
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Moses, promised him <I>that very mountain;</I> so that God's mind being
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already made known in this matter it would be a vain and needless thing
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to consult it any further by casting lots, by which we are to appeal to
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God in those cases only which cannot otherwise be decided, not in those
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which, like this, are already determined. Caleb is here called the
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<I>Kenezite,</I> some think from some remarkable victory obtained by
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him over the Kenezites, as the Romans gave their great generals titles
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from the countries they conquered, as Africanus, Germanicus, &c.
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Observe,</P>
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<P>
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1. To enforce his petition,
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(1.) He brings the children of Judah, that is, the heads and great men
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of that tribe, along with him, to present it, who were willing thus to
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pay their respects to that ornament of their tribe, and to testify
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their consent that he should be provided for by himself, and that they
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would not take it as any reflection upon the rest of this tribe. Caleb
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was the person whom God had chosen out of that tribe to be employed in
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dividing the land
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+34:19">Num. xxxiv. 19</A>),
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and therefore, lest he should seem to improve his authority as a
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commissioner for his own private advantage and satisfaction, he brings
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his brethren along with him, and waiving his own power, seems rather to
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rely upon their interest.
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(2.) He appeals to Joshua himself concerning the truth of the
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allegations upon which he grounded his petition: <I>Thou knowest the
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thing,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+13:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>.
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(3.) He makes a very honourable mention of Moses, which he knew would
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not be at all unpleasing to Joshua: Moses the <I>man of God</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+13:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>),
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and the <I>servant of the Lord,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+13:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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What Moses said he took as from God himself, because Moses was his
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mouth and his agent, and therefore he had reason both to desire and
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expect that it should be made good. What can be more earnestly desired
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than the tokens of God's favour? And what more confidently expected
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than the grants of his promise?</P>
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<P>
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2. In his petition he sets forth,</P>
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<P>
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(1.) The testimony of his conscience concerning his integrity in the
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management of that great affair on which it proved the fare of Israel
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turned, the spying out of the land. Caleb was one of the twelve that
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were sent out on that errand
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+13:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>),
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and he now reflected upon it with comfort, and mentioned it, not in
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pride, but as that which, being the consideration of the grant, was
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necessary to be inserted in the plea,
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[1.] That he made his report as it was in his heart, that is, he spoke
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as he thought when he spoke so honourably of the land of Canaan, so
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confidently of the power of God to put them in possession of it, and so
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contemptibly of the opposition that the Canaanites, even the Anakim
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themselves, could make against them, as we find he did,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+13:30,14:7-9">Num. xiii. 30; xiv. 7-9</A>.
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He did not do it merely to please Moses, or to keep the people quiet,
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much less from a spirit of contradiction to his fellows, but from a
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full conviction of the truth of what he said and a firm belief of the
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divine promise.
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[2.] That herein he <I>wholly followed the Lord his God,</I> that is,
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he kept close to his duty, and sincerely aimed at the glory of God in
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it. He conformed himself to the divine will with an eye to the divine
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favour. He had obtained this testimony from God himself
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+14:24">Num. xiv. 24</A>),
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and therefore it was not vain-glory in him to speak of it, any more
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than it is for those who have <I>God's Spirit witnessing with their
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spirits</I> that they are the children of God humbly and thankfully to
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tell others for their encouragement what God has done for their souls.
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Note, Those that follow God fully when they are young shall have both
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the credit and comfort of it when they are old, and the reward of it
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for ever in the heavenly Canaan.
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[3.] That he did this when all his brethren and companions in that
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service, except Joshua, did otherwise. They <I>made the heart of the
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people melt</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+13:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>),
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and how pernicious the consequences of it were was very well known. It
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adds much to the praise of following God if we adhere to him when
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others desert and decline from him. Caleb needed not to mention
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particularly Joshua's conduct in this matter; it was sufficiently
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known, and he would not seem to flatter him; it was enough to say
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+13:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>),
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<I>Thou knowest what the Lord spoke concerning me and thee.</I></P>
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<P>
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(2.) The experience he had had of God's goodness to him ever since to
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this day. Though he had wandered with the rest in the wilderness, and
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had been kept thirty-eight years out of Canaan as they were, for that
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sin which he was so far from having a hand in that he had done his
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utmost to prevent it, yet, instead of complaining of this, he
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mentioned, to the glory of God, his mercy to him in two things:--
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[1.] That he was kept alive in the wilderness, not only notwithstanding
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the common perils and fatigues of that tedious march, but though all
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that generation of Israelites, except himself and Joshua, were one way
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or other cut off by death. With what a grateful sense of God's goodness
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to him does he speak it!
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+13:10"><I>v.</I> 10</A>).
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<I>Now behold</I> (behold and wonder) <I>the Lord hath kept me alive
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these forty and five years,</I> thirty-eight years in the wilderness,
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|
through the plagues of the desert, and seven years in Canaan through
|
|
the perils of war! Note, <I>First,</I> While we live, it is God that
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|
keeps us alive; by his power he protects us from death, and by his
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|
bounty supplies us continually with the supports and comforts of life.
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|
He <I>holdeth our soul in life. Secondly,</I> The longer we live the
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|
more sensible we should be of God's goodness to us in keeping us alive,
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|
his care in prolonging our frail lives, his patience in prolonging our
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|
forfeited lives. Has he kept me alive these forty-five years? Is it
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|
about that time of life with us? Or is it more? Or is it less? We have
|
|
reason to say, <I>It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not
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|
consumed.</I> How much are we indebted to the favour of God, and what
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|
shall we render? Let the life thus kept by the providence of God be
|
|
devoted to his praise. <I>Thirdly,</I> The death of many others round
|
|
about us should make us the more thankful to God for sparing us and
|
|
keeping us alive. Thousands falling on our right hand and our left and
|
|
yet ourselves spared. These distinguishing favours impose on us strong
|
|
obligations to singular obedience.
|
|
|
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[2.] That he was fit for business, now that he was in Canaan. Though
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|
eighty-five years old, yet as hearty and lively as when he was forty
|
|
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|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+13:11"><I>v.</I> 11</A>):
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|
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|
<I>As my strength was then, so is it now.</I> This was the fruit of the
|
|
promise, and out-did what was said; for God not only gives what he
|
|
promises, but he gives more: life by promise shall be life, and health,
|
|
and strength, and all that which will make the promised life a blessing
|
|
and comfort. Moses had said in his prayer
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+90:10">Ps. xc. 10</A>)
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|
|
|
that at <I>eighty years old</I> even their <I>strength is labour and
|
|
sorrow,</I> and so it is most commonly. But Caleb was an exception to
|
|
the rule; his strength at eighty-five was ease and joy: this he got by
|
|
<I>following the Lord fully.</I> Caleb here takes notice of this to the
|
|
glory of God, and as an excuse for his asking a portion which he must
|
|
fetch out of the giants' hands. Let not Joshua tell him he <I>knew not
|
|
what he asked;</I> could he get the possession of that which he begged
|
|
for a title to? "Yes," says he, "why not? I am as fit for war now as
|
|
ever I was."</P>
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|
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<P>
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|
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(3.) The promise Moses had made him in God's name that he should have
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|
<I>this mountain,</I>
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|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+13:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
|
|
|
|
This promise is his chief plea, and that on which he relies. As we find
|
|
it
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+14:24">Num. xiv. 24</A>)
|
|
|
|
it is general, <I>him will I bring into the land whereunto he went, and
|
|
his seed shall possess it;</I> but it seems it was more particular, and
|
|
Joshua knew it; both sides understood this mountain for which Caleb was
|
|
now a suitor to be intended. This was the place from which, more than
|
|
any other, the spies took their report, for here they met with the sons
|
|
of Anak
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+13:22">Num. xiii. 22</A>),
|
|
|
|
the sight of whom made such an impression upon them,
|
|
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+13:3"><I>v.</I> 3</A>.
|
|
|
|
We may suppose that Caleb, observing what stress they laid upon the
|
|
difficulty of conquering Hebron, a city garrisoned by the giants, and
|
|
how thence they inferred that the conquest of the whole land was
|
|
utterly impracticable, in opposition to their suggestions, and to
|
|
convince the people that he spoke as he thought, bravely desired to
|
|
have that city which they called <I>invincible</I> assigned to himself
|
|
for his own portion: "I will undertake to deal with that, and, if I
|
|
cannot get it for my inheritance, I will be without." "Well," said
|
|
Moses, "it shall be thy own then, win it and wear it." Such a noble
|
|
heroic spirit Caleb had, and so desirous was he to inspire his brethren
|
|
with it, that he chose this place only because it was the most
|
|
difficult to be conquered. And, to show that his soul did not decay any
|
|
more than his body, now forty-five years after he adheres to his choice
|
|
and is still of the same mind.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
(4.) The hopes he had of being master of it, though the sons of Anak
|
|
were in possession of it
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+13:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>If the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them
|
|
out.</I> The city of Hebron Joshua had already reduced
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+10:37"><I>ch.</I> x. 37</A>),
|
|
|
|
but the mountain which belonged to it, and which was inhabited by the
|
|
sons of Anak, was yet unconquered; for though the cutting off of the
|
|
Anakim from Hebron was mentioned
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+11:21"><I>ch.</I> xi. 21</A>,
|
|
|
|
because the historian would relate all the military actions together,
|
|
yet it seems it was not conquered till after they had begun to divide
|
|
the land. Observe, He builds his hopes of driving out the sons of Anak
|
|
upon the presence of God with him. He does not say, "Because I am now
|
|
as strong for war as I was at forty, therefore I shall drive them out,"
|
|
depending upon his personal valour; nor does he depend upon his
|
|
interest in the warlike tribe of Judah, who attended him now in making
|
|
this address, and no doubt would assist him; nor does he court Joshua's
|
|
aid, or put it upon that, "If thou wilt be with me I shall gain my
|
|
point." But, <I>If the Lord will be with me.</I> Here,
|
|
|
|
[1.] He seems to speak doubtfully of God's being with him, not from any
|
|
distrust of his goodness or faithfulness. He had spoken without the
|
|
least hesitation of God's presence with Israel in general
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Nu+14:9">Num. xiv. 9</A>);
|
|
|
|
<I>the Lord is with us.</I> But for himself, from a humble sense of his
|
|
own unworthiness of such a favour, he chooses to express himself thus,
|
|
<I>If the Lord will be with me.</I> The Chaldee paraphrase reads it,
|
|
<I>If the Word of the Lord be my helper,</I> that Word which is God,
|
|
and in the fulness of time was made flesh, and is the captain of our
|
|
salvation.
|
|
|
|
[2.] But he expresses without the least doubt his assurance that if God
|
|
were with him he should be able to dispossess the sons of Anak. "If God
|
|
be with us, <I>If God be for us, who can be against us,</I> so as to
|
|
prevail?" It is also intimated that if God were not with him, though
|
|
all the forces of Israel should come in to his assistance, he should
|
|
not be able to gain his point. Whatever we undertake, God's favourable
|
|
presence with us is all in all to our success; this therefore we must
|
|
earnestly pray for, and carefully make sure of, by keeping ourselves in
|
|
the love of God; and on this we must depend, and from this take our
|
|
encouragement against the greatest difficulties.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
3. Upon the whole matter, Caleb's request is
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+13:12"><I>v.</I> 12</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>Give me this mountain,</I>
|
|
|
|
(1.) Because it was formerly in God's promise, and he would let Israel
|
|
know how much he valued the promise, insisting upon <I>this mountain,
|
|
whereof the Lord spake in that day,</I> as most desirable, though
|
|
perhaps as good a portion might have fallen to him by lot in common
|
|
with the rest. Those that live by faith value that which is given by
|
|
promise far above that which is given by providence only.
|
|
|
|
(2.) Because it was now in the Anakim's possession, and he would let
|
|
Israel know how little he feared the enemy, and would by his example
|
|
animate them to push on their conquests. Herein Caleb answered his
|
|
name, which signifies <I>all heart.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Joshua grants his petition
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+13:13"><I>v.</I> 13</A>):
|
|
|
|
<I>Joshua blessed him,</I> commended his bravery, applauded his
|
|
request, and gave him what he asked. He also prayed for him, and for
|
|
his good success in his intended undertaking against the sons of Anak.
|
|
Joshua was both a prince and a prophet, and upon both accounts it was
|
|
proper for him to give Caleb his blessing, for <I>the less is blessed
|
|
of the better.</I> Hebron was settled on Caleb and his heirs
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+13:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>),
|
|
|
|
<I>because he wholly followed the Lord God of Israel.</I> And happy are
|
|
we if we follow him. Note, Singular piety shall be crowned with
|
|
singular favours. Now,
|
|
|
|
1. We are here told what Hebron had been, the city of Arba, a great man
|
|
among the Anakim
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+13:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>);
|
|
|
|
we find it called <I>Kirjath-arba</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+23:2">Gen. xxiii. 2</A>),
|
|
|
|
as the place where Sarah died. Hereabouts Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob
|
|
lived most of their time in Canaan, and near to it was the cave of
|
|
Machpelah, where they were buried, which perhaps had led Caleb hither
|
|
when he went to spy out the land, and had made him covet this rather
|
|
than any other part for his inheritance.
|
|
|
|
2. We are afterwards told what Hebron was.
|
|
|
|
(1.) It was one of the cities belonging to priests
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+21:13">Josh. xxi. 13</A>),
|
|
|
|
and a <I>city of refuge,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+20:7">Josh. xx. 7</A>.
|
|
|
|
When Caleb had it, he contented himself with the country about it, and
|
|
cheerfully gave the city to the priests, the Lord's ministers, thinking
|
|
it could not be better bestowed, no, not upon his own children, nor
|
|
that it was the less his own for being thus devoted to God.
|
|
|
|
(2.) It was a royal city, and, in the beginning of David's reign, the
|
|
metropolis of the kingdom of Judah; thither the people resorted to him,
|
|
and there he reigned seven years. Thus highly was Caleb's city
|
|
honoured; it is a pity there should have been such a blemish upon his
|
|
family long after as Nabal was, who was <I>of the house of Caleb,</I>
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Sa+25:3">1 Sam. xxv. 3</A>.
|
|
|
|
But the best men cannot entail their virtues.</P>
|
|
|
|
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