Just as Moses had promised, Judah gave Hebron to Caleb, who drove out the descendants of the three sons of Anak. Then they gave Hebron to CalebThe phrase "Then they gave Hebron to Caleb" signifies the fulfillment of a divine promise. Hebron, a significant city in the Judean hills, was originally called Kiriath Arba. The giving of Hebron to Caleb is a testament to God's faithfulness and the reward for Caleb's unwavering faith and obedience. Caleb, one of the two faithful spies (Numbers 13-14), is a model of perseverance and trust in God's promises. The Hebrew root for "gave" (נָתַן, natan) implies a deliberate and generous act, reflecting God's grace in fulfilling His word through the Israelites' actions. as Moses had promised
This phrase underscores the continuity of God's covenantal promises through His servant Moses. The promise to Caleb is recorded in Numbers 14:24 and Deuteronomy 1:36, where God, through Moses, assures Caleb of an inheritance for his faithfulness. The historical context here is crucial; it highlights the importance of leadership and the transmission of God's promises through generations. Moses, as a prophet and leader, serves as a conduit for God's will, and his promises carry divine authority. and Caleb drove out the three sons of Anak from there
The act of Caleb driving out the "three sons of Anak" is both a literal and symbolic victory. The Anakim were a race of giants, and their presence in Hebron represented formidable opposition. Caleb's success in driving them out is a testament to his faith and God's power working through him. The Hebrew root for "drove out" (יָרַשׁ, yarash) conveys the idea of dispossession and conquest, emphasizing the complete removal of the Anakim. This victory is not just a physical conquest but also a spiritual triumph, illustrating the theme of overcoming seemingly insurmountable obstacles through faith. Caleb's actions serve as an inspiration for believers to trust in God's strength to overcome the giants in their own lives. Persons / Places / Events 1. CalebA faithful Israelite leader from the tribe of Judah, known for his unwavering faith in God. He was one of the two spies who trusted in God's promise to give Israel the land of Canaan. 2. HebronAn ancient city in the hill country of Judah, significant for its association with the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It was given to Caleb as an inheritance. 3. MosesThe prophet and leader who led the Israelites out of Egypt. He promised Caleb the land of Hebron because of Caleb's faithfulness. 4. The Sons of AnakA race of giants in Canaan, known for their formidable size and strength. Caleb's driving them out demonstrates God's power and faithfulness in fulfilling His promises. 5. The PromiseThe inheritance of Hebron to Caleb was a fulfillment of God's promise through Moses, highlighting the importance of faith and obedience. Teaching Points Faithfulness RewardedCaleb's inheritance of Hebron is a testament to the rewards of steadfast faith and trust in God's promises. Believers are encouraged to remain faithful, even when circumstances seem daunting. God's Promises FulfilledThe fulfillment of the promise to Caleb underscores God's faithfulness. Christians can trust that God will fulfill His promises in His timing. Courage in the Face of GiantsCaleb's courage in driving out the sons of Anak serves as an example for believers to confront their own "giants" with faith and reliance on God's strength. The Importance of ObedienceCaleb's account highlights the blessings that come from obedience to God's commands. Obedience is a key aspect of a faithful Christian life. Inheritance Through FaithJust as Caleb received his inheritance through faith, believers are reminded of their spiritual inheritance in Christ, which is accessed through faith. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Caleb's faith in God's promises challenge you in your current circumstances? 2. In what ways can you demonstrate the same courage Caleb showed when facing your own "giants"? 3. How does the account of Caleb and Hebron encourage you to trust in God's timing for the fulfillment of His promises? 4. What are some practical steps you can take to ensure your obedience to God's commands, as Caleb did? 5. How does understanding your spiritual inheritance in Christ impact the way you live your daily life? Connections to Other Scriptures Numbers 13-14These chapters recount the account of the twelve spies, including Caleb, who explored Canaan. Caleb's faith contrasted with the fear of the other spies. Joshua 14:6-15This passage details Caleb's request to Joshua for Hebron, emphasizing his faith and the fulfillment of God's promise. Deuteronomy 1:36God promises Caleb the land he walked on because of his wholehearted devotion. People Abednego, Achsah, Adonibezek, Ahiman, Amalekites, Amorites, Anak, Anath, Arad, Arba, Asher, Asherites, Benjamin, Benjamites, Caleb, Canaanites, Dan, Danites, Debir, Edomites, Hittites, Hobab, Israelites, Jebusites, Joseph, Joshua, Kenaz, Manasseh, Naphtali, Naphtalites, Othniel, Perizzites, Rehob, Sheshai, Simeon, Simeonites, Talmai, Zebulun, ZidonPlaces Acco, Achzib, Ahlab, Aijalon, Akrabbim, Aphik, Arad, Ashkelon, Beth-anath, Bethel, Beth-shan, Beth-shemesh, Bezek, Debir, Dor, Ekron, Gaza, Gezer, Gibeah, Hebron, Helbah, Hormah, Ibleam, Jerusalem, Kiriath-arba, Kiriath-sepher, Kitron, Luz, Megiddo, Mount Heres, Nahalol, Negeb, Rehob, Sela, Shaalbim, Sidon, Taanach, ZephathTopics Anak, Caleb, Dispossesseth, Driving, Drove, Expelled, Hebron, Promised, Sons, Spoken, ThenceDictionary of Bible Themes Judges 1:1-20 7266 tribes of Israel Library The Historical Books.
1. In the Pentateuch we have the establishment of the Theocracy, with the preparatory and accompanying history pertaining to it. The province of the historical books is to unfold its practiced working, and to show how, under the divine superintendence and guidance, it accomplished the end for which it was given. They contain, therefore, primarily, a history of God's dealings with the covenant people under the economy which he had imposed upon them. They look at the course of human events on the …
E. P. Barrows—Companion to the BibleThe Coast of the Asphaltites, the Essenes. En-Gedi.
"On the western shore" (of the Asphaltites) "dwell the Essenes; whom persons, guilty of any crimes, fly from on every side. A nation it is that lives alone, and of all other nations in the whole world, most to be admired; they are without any woman; all lust banished, &c. Below these, was the town Engadda, the next to Jerusalem for fruitfulness, and groves of palm-trees, now another burying-place. From thence stands Massada, a castle in a rock, and this castle not far from the Asphaltites." Solinus, …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica Beth-El. Beth-Aven.
Josephus thus describes the land of Benjamin; "The Benjamites' portion of land was from the river Jordan to the sea, in length: in breadth, it was bounded by Jerusalem and Beth-el." Let these last words be marked, "The breadth of the land of Benjamin was bounded by Jerusalem and Beth-el." May we not justly conclude, from these words, that Jerusalem and Beth-el were opposite, as it were, in a right line? But if you look upon the maps, there are some that separate these by a very large tract of land, …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica Tsippor
"Tsippor is the greatest city of Galilee, and built in a very strong place." "Kitron (Judg 1:29,30) is Tsippor: and why is it called Tsippor? Because it is seated upon a mountain as Tsippor, a bird." "Sixteen miles on all sides from Tsippor was a land flowing with milk and honey." This city is noted in Josephus for its warlike affairs; but most noted in the Talmudists for the university fixed there, and for the learning, which Rabbi Judah the Holy brought hither, as we have said before. He sat in …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica A Nation's Struggle for a Home and Freedom.
ISRAEL'S VICTORIES OVER THE CANAANITES.--Josh. 2-9; Judg. 1, 4, 5. Parallel Readings. Hist. Bible II,1-4.1. Prin. of Politics X. That the leaders took the lead in Israel, That the people volunteered readily, Bless Jehovah! Zebulun was a people who exposed themselves to deadly peril, And Naphtali on the heights of the open field. Kings came, they fought; They fought, the kings of Canaan, At Taanach by the Waters of Megiddo, They took no booty of silver. Prom heaven fought the stars, From their …
Charles Foster Kent—The Making of a Nation The Place of the Old Testament in Divine Revelation
[Sidenote: Advent of the Hebrews] Modern discovery and research have demonstrated that the truth revealed through the Babylonians and with less definiteness through the people of the Nile was never entirely lost. Such a sad waste was out of accord with the obvious principles of divine economy. As the icy chill of ceremonialism seized decadent Babylonia and Egypt, there emerged from the steppes south and east of Palestine a virile, ambitious group of nomads, who not only fell heir to that which …
Charles Foster Kent—The Origin & Permanent Value of the Old Testament The Prophet Jonah.
It has been asserted without any sufficient reason, that Jonah is older than Hosea, Joel, Amos, and Obadiah,--that he is the oldest among the prophets whose written monuments have been preserved to us. The passage in 2 Kings xiv. 25, where it is said, that Jonah, the son of Amittai the prophet, prophesied to Jeroboam the happy success of his arms, and the restoration of the ancient boundaries of Israel, and that this prophecy was confirmed by the event, cannot decide in favour of this assertion, …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Scythopolis. Beth-Shean, the Beginning of Galilee.
The bonds of Galilee were, "on the south, Samaris and Scythopolis, unto the flood of Jordan." Scythopolis is the same with Beth-shean, of which is no seldom mention in the Holy Scriptures, Joshua 17:11; Judges 1:27; 1 Samuel 31:10. "Bethsaine (saith Josephus), called by the Greeks Scythopolis." It was distant but a little way from Jordan, seated in the entrance to a great valley: for so the same author writes, "Having passed Jordan, they came to a great plain, where lies before you the city Bethsane," …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica The Country of Jericho, and the Situation of the City.
Here we will borrow Josephus' pencil, "Jericho is seated in a plain, yet a certain barren mountain hangs over it, narrow, indeed, but long; for it runs out northward to the country of Scythopolis,--and southward, to the country of Sodom, and the utmost coast of the Asphaltites." Of this mountain mention is made, Joshua 2:22, where the two spies, sent by Joshua, and received by Rahab, are said to "conceal themselves." "Opposite against this, lies a mountain on the other side Jordan, beginning from …
John Lightfoot—From the Talmud and Hebraica The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
THE ISRAELITES IN THE LAND OF CANAAN: THE JUDGES--THE PHILISTINES AND THE HEBREW KINGDOM--SAUL, DAVID, SOLOMON, THE DEFECTION OF THE TEN TRIBES--THE XXIst EGYPTIAN DYNASTY--SHESHONQ OR SHISHAK DAMASCUS. The Hebrews in the desert: their families, clans, and tribes--The Amorites and the Hebrews on the left bank of the Jordan--The conquest of Canaan and the native reaction against the Hebrews--The judges, Ehud, Deborah, Jerubbaal or Gideon and the Manassite supremacy; Abimelech, Jephihdh. The Philistines, …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 6 Jews and Gentiles in "The Land"
Coming down from Syria, it would have been difficult to fix the exact spot where, in the view of the Rabbis, "the land" itself began. The boundary lines, though mentioned in four different documents, are not marked in anything like geographical order, but as ritual questions connected with them came up for theological discussion. For, to the Rabbis the precise limits of Palestine were chiefly interesting so far as they affected the religious obligations or privileges of a district. And in this respect …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life Judges
For the understanding of the early history and religion of Israel, the book of Judges, which covers the period from the death of Joshua to the beginning of the struggle with the Philistines, is of inestimable importance; and it is very fortunate that the elements contributed by the later editors are so easily separated from the ancient stories whose moral they seek to point. That moral is most elaborately stated in ii. 6-iii. 6, which is a sort of programme or preface to iii. 7-xvi. 31, which constitutes …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Judges 1:20 NIVJudges 1:20 NLTJudges 1:20 ESVJudges 1:20 NASBJudges 1:20 KJV
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