Honor Is Due
Caleb and Joshua encouraged the people to trust in Yahweh and take possession of the land. Because of their faithfulness, Caleb and Joshua were allowed to enter the land and take part in the conquest of Canaan (Num. 13:1–14:10; Josh. 14:6; 13–14).
When Moses appointed a group of people responsible for distributing the land of Canaan, Caleb was selected to represent the tribe of Judah (Num. 34:19). He was 85 years old when he finished conquering the land assigned to his clan (Josh. 14:7, 10). Caleb received as his inheritance the city of Hebron, formally known as Kiriath-arba from which he expelled the three leaders of the Anakim (Josh. 14:13–15; 15:14).
As a person, Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, occurs in the story of the spies (Nu 13 ff). He represents the tribe of Judah as its prince (Nu 13:6; cf ver 2). While the majority of the men sent out by Moses bring back evil report, Caleb and Hoshea, or Joshua, the son of Nun, are the only ones to counsel the invasion of the promised land (ib, 30; 14:6 ff). Accordingly, these two alone are permitted to survive (14:38; 32:12). Upon the conquest and distribution of the land by Joshua, Caleb reminds the leader of the promise made by God through Moses, and so he receives Hebron as an inheritance for himself and his descendants (Josh 14:6–15), after driving out from thence the Anakim who were in possession of the city (15:14). In the ║ account in Jgs 1:8 ff, the dispossession of the Can inhabitants of Hebron is ascribed to Judah (ver 10). Both accounts agree in mentioning Othniel, a younger brother of Caleb, as the conqueror of Kiriathsepher or Debir; as his reward he receives the hand of Achsah, Caleb’s daughter. Achsah is given by her father a portion of the Southland; but, upon request, she obtains a more fruitful locality with upper and nether springs (Josh 15:15–19; Jgs 1:12–15).
In 1 S 30:14 Caleb is undoubtedly the name of a clan which is, moreover, differentiated from Judah. Modern scholars therefore assume that Caleb was originally an independent clan which in historical times merged with Judah. As Caleb is called the son of Kenaz (Jgs 1:13) or the Kenizzite (Nu 32:12), it is further believed that the Calebites were originally associated with an Edomite clan named Kenaz (Gen 36:11), and that they entered their future homes in the southern part of Pal from the south. Their migration up north would then be reflected in the story of the spies.
In the genealogical tables (1 Ch 2), Caleb is made a descendant of Judah through his father Hezron. He is the brother of Jerahmeel, and the “father” of Hebron and of other towns in Judah. (Chelubai, ver 9, is apparently identical with Caleb.)
Nabal, with whom David had an encounter, is called a Calebite, i.e. one belonging to the house of Caleb (1 S 25:3).
MAX L. MARGOLIS