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Caleb

the faithful scout

Who was Caleb?

Also called
Caleb the Kenizzite Numbers 32:12
From
From the tribe of Judah. He was the son of Jephunneh Numbers 13:6
Occupation
Leader of his tribe and scout of Canaan Numbers 13:2-3, 6
Caleb, an artistic recreation

What the Bible says

Numbers 13:2, 6

2Send men to view the land of Chanaan, which I will give to the children of Israel, one of every tribe, of the rulers. 6Of the tribe of Juda, Caleb the son of Jephone.

Numbers 13:30; Numbers 14:24

In the mean time Caleb, to still the murmuring of the people that rose against Moses, said: Let us go up and possess the land, for we shall be able to conquer it.

Joshua 14:10-13

10The Lord therefore hath granted me life, as he promised until this present day. It is forty and five years since the Lord spoke this word to Moses, when Israel journeyed through the wilderness: this day I am eighty-five years old, 11As strong as I was at that time when I was sent to view the land: the strength of that time continueth in me until this day, as well to fight as to march. 12Give me therefore this mountain, which the Lord promised, in thy hearing also, wherein are the Enacims, and cities great and strong: if so be the Lord will be with me, and I shall be able to destroy them, as he promised me. 13And Josue blessed him, and gave him Hebron in possession.

Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner revision), public domain.

The path of Caleb

  1. Before Jesus. Moses sent 12 leaders, one from each tribe, to scout out Canaan. Caleb went for the tribe of Judah. Numbers 13:2-3, 6
  2. Before Jesus. They went through the land for 40 days. They brought back a cluster of grapes that two men carried on a pole. Numbers 13:23, 25
  3. Before Jesus. The others said that the people of that land were too strong. Caleb quieted the people and said they could take it. Numbers 13:28, 30-31
  4. Before Jesus. With Joshua, he tore his garments and begged the people not to rebel against the Lord or be afraid. Numbers 14:6-9
  5. With Jesus. The people threatened to stone them. God said that Caleb had followed him wholeheartedly, and that he would enter the land. Numbers 14:10, 24
  6. With Jesus. Of those who were 20 years old or more, only Caleb and Joshua would enter the promised land. Numbers 14:29-30
  7. With Jesus. The years in the desert went by. When Moses counted the people again, of the old generation only Caleb and Joshua were left. Numbers 26:64-65
  8. With Jesus. God chose one leader from each tribe to divide up the promised land. For the tribe of Judah he chose Caleb. Numbers 34:18-19
  9. Afterward. At 85, Caleb asked for the hill country that God had promised him. Joshua blessed him and gave him Hebron. Joshua 14:10-13
  10. Afterward. Caleb drove out of Hebron the three descendants of Anak: Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai. Then he went up against the city of Debir. Joshua 15:13-15
  11. Afterward. He promised his daughter Achsah to whoever captured Kiriath-sepher. Othniel, son of Kenaz, took the city and married Achsah. Older Catholic Bibles call him “the younger brother of Caleb”; other translations take him to be his nephew. Judges 1:12-13

Words of Caleb

“Let us go up and possess the land, for we shall be able to conquer it.” Numbers 13:30

When the other scouts were discouraging the people.

“Be not rebellious against the Lord: and fear ye not the people of this land, for we are able to eat them up as bread. All aid is gone from them: the Lord is with us, fear ye not.” Numbers 14:9

Together with Joshua, when the people wanted to go back to Egypt.

“I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Cadesbarne, to view the land, and I brought him word again as to me seemed true.” Joshua 14:7

To Joshua, at Gilgal, when the tribe of Judah came to receive its land.

“The Lord therefore hath granted me life, as he promised until this present day. It is forty and five years since the Lord spoke this word to Moses, when Israel journeyed through the wilderness: this day I am eighty-five years old, as strong as I was at that time when I was sent to view the land: the strength of that time continueth in me until this day, as well to fight as to march.” Joshua 14:10-11

In that same conversation with Joshua.

What they were like

The greatest thing they did

Not to be confused with

What people ask

Was Caleb an Israelite?

He belonged to the tribe of Judah, but the Bible calls him a “Kenizzite.” The Catholic Encyclopedia thinks his clan was not Israelite in origin and joined Judah. Numbers 13:6; Numbers 32:12; Catholic Encyclopedia (1908), “Caleb”

Why did only Caleb and Joshua enter the promised land?

Because they were the only scouts who trusted in the Lord. God said that the rest of that generation would die in the desert. Numbers 14:29-30, 38

How old was he when he received Hebron?

85. He himself said he had the same strength he had at 40. Joshua 14:7, 10-11

What did the scouts bring back?

A cluster of grapes so big that two men carried it on a pole, and also pomegranates and figs. Numbers 13:23

Who was Othniel?

A close relative of Caleb, the son of Kenaz: older Catholic Bibles call him his younger brother, and other translations, his nephew. He married Achsah, Caleb’s daughter. Later he was a judge of Israel. Judges 1:13; Judges 3:9-10

Who was Caleb’s father?

Jephunneh, of the tribe of Judah. Numbers 13:6

What other name did Kiriath-sepher have?

Debir. Caleb went up against that city after taking Hebron. Joshua 15:15

Little known The Bible calls him a “Kenizzite.” Numbers 32:12 His daughter Achsah asked him for springs of water, and Caleb gave her the upper and the lower springs. Judges…

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