Joshua 14

Land Division Begins

1 Here is how they started dividing up the land in Canaan - Eleazar the priest, Joshua, and the tribal leaders handled the business.

2 They threw lots for the nine and a half tribes - Just like God told Moses to do.

3 Moses already gave land to the other two and a half tribes On the east side of the Jordan, But the Levites did not get any land of their own.

4 Instead, Joseph’s tribe got split into two - Manasseh and Ephraim. The Levites only got towns to live in, with land around them for their animals.

5 So Israel did exactly what God told Moses - And that is how the land division started.

Caleb Pulls Up for His Inheritance

6 The tribe of Judah stepped up to Joshua at Gilgal, And Caleb (son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite) said, “You remember what God said to Moses about me and you back in Kadesh-barnea.”

7 “I was 40 years old when Moses sent me to spy out the land. I brought back the real report - straight truth, no cap.”

8 “While the other dudes had people scared, I stayed loyal to the Lord all the way.”

9 “Moses made a promise that day: ‘Everywhere your foot stepped, Caleb, that is your land - because you stayed true to God.’”

10 “Now look - it has been 45 years since then, And God kept me alive all this time - While we were out here in the wilderness. Today, I am 85.”

11 “And I am still strong, just like I was back then. I can fight, march, and move - same as before.”

12 “So now, let me get what God promised. I want that hill country. The Anakim (the giants) are up there with big cities - But with God on my side, I will take it from them.”

Joshua Blesses Caleb

13 So Joshua blessed Caleb and gave him Hebron as his inheritance.

14 That is why Hebron still belongs to Caleb and his fam - because he was real loyal to God the whole way.

15 Hebron used to be called Kiriath-arba - Named after a giant named Arba, the biggest of the Anakim. But after Caleb claimed it - The land finally had rest and peace.