Tyndale Open Study NotesJoshua 14

• As he had promised, God brought Israel into the land. Joshua then focused on dividing the land among Israel's tribes.

• The tribal allowances made the covenant of the Israelites with God real. It showed the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Since God owned the land, giving it to the tribes was a gift. God gave them the land to live in and guided its distribution.

• In these lists of tribal allowances, the author describes some borders in great detail, allowing them to be mapped. With others, they are less plainly defined.

• The allotment of land to the tribes on the west side of the Jordan describes what God intended for each tribe to possess.

• The one narrating the story begins this section with Caleb receiving land and ends with Joshua receiving land (14:6–15; 19:49–51). Only Caleb and Joshua had shown faith in God that Israel could conquer the land (Numbers 13:30; 14:6–9).

Eleazar, Joshua, and the leaders of the tribes oversaw the distribution of the land to ensure that the process was honest and just.

assigned by lot: See study note on 7:16–18.

Joseph, the older son of the patriarch Jacob's favorite wife Rachel, received twice as much land through his sons Manasseh and Ephraim (see study note on Genesis 48:5–7). Since the Levites did not get their own land allowance, the total number of tribes with land remained at 12 (Joshua 13:14).

• The Kenizzite people were not originally Israelites (Genesis 15:19). How they became connected to Judah is unknown.

• about you and me: Only Caleb and Joshua remained true to God when they first had the chance to enter the land. Therefore, God promised them that they would inherit it (Numbers 14:24).

Moses swore: See Numbers 14:24.

Caleb believed he was as strong at 85 years old as he was at 40. He still felt ready to travel and fight, continuing both ordinary and extraordinary activities.

Israel stayed away from Canaan 45 years earlier because they feared those descended from Anak (Anakim). These were tall, strong people living in the hills of Judah (Numbers 13:32–33).

rest from war: See study note on 1:13.