Joshua 14 Commentary

Joshua 14 Commentary
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Their inheritances were assigned by lot to the nine-and-a-half tribes, as the Lord had commanded through Moses. Joshua 14 verse 2. It is important that the leadership investigated the will of the LORD as recorded in the word of God. Their decisions were based on the written word. They didn’t have to hear the LORD speak again.

“Simeon and Levi are brothers— their swords are weapons of violence. Let me not enter their council, let me not join their assembly, for they have killed men in their anger and hamstrung oxen as they pleased. Cursed be their anger, so fierce, and their fury, so cruel! I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel. Genesis 49 verses 5 to 7. And in keeping with word of the LORD above, Levi only got towns and not a full portion of land. Though Levi’s punishment was actually transformed into the blessing of priesthood, he still ‘enjoyed’ the scattering in Israel.

Caleb is 85 years old. From this we can estimate the length of Joshua’s conquest of Canaan. Five years isn’t long enough but that is roughly how much time Joshua had. It was super swift! A miracle.

Notice how Caleb recalls the moment Moses gave him the land he had set his foot on. Consequently Caleb held title to this land but he wasn’t in possession of it yet. He had to fight and drive pretenders out of it. I don’t know what makes us think the gifting of the LORD is there for an easy walk-in meal.

The blessing of the double portion for Joseph, as one with the right of the firstborn son, is confirmed as both Ephraim and Manasseh get full portions of land. It is the blessing of fruitfulness and increase. The blessing of dominion (scepter was however reserved for Judah).

“Then the land had rest from war.” It is criminal to declare peace when the enemy is out there sharpening his knife. Truce with the rulers, authorities, powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces is not an acceptable position in the household of faith. Having peace right in the midst of sin or while right in the very act of sin is terribly worrying. Here, it is only after Hebron is taken and Caleb is settled that we hear of rest.

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