Bible Commentaries

Verses 1-19

Before the distribution of the land had gone too far, it was appropriate for Caleb to come to Joshua and remind him of the promise God had made ( Num_14:21-24 ; Deu_1:35-36 ). Caleb says he was forty years old when he helped spy out the land. The powerful influence of faithless leaders can be seen in their ability to make the hearts of the people to melt. In contrast, the man who "wholly followed the Lord" was rewarded ( Heb_11:6 ; Heb_6:10 ).

We know Israel wandered thirty-eight more years in the wilderness before she came again to the promised land, so Caleb's report of forty-five years passing tells us the conquest of Canaan had taken seven years to that time ( Deu_2:14-15 ).

Great men of God, like Caleb, rely upon God to give them the strength to complete their task (compare 1Sa_17:37 ; 1Sa_17:45-47 ; 2Ti_4:16-18 ). Notice, Caleb knew he had lived to be eighty-five because of God's blessing ( Jos_14:10 ). He even yet knew that he could only accomplish conquest if the Lord was with him ( Jos_14:12 ; Jam_4:13-15 ; Rom_8:31 ; Php_4:13 ; Heb_13:5-6 ). Caleb had told the children of Israel that they could conquer the land and, with the help of God, he and his son-in-law, Othniel, did just that despite the fact that they faced the strongest of the giants who lived in Canaan ( Jos_14:13-15 ; Jos_15:13-19 ).