Exodus, wilderness, and conquest of Canaan · c. 1485-1400 BC
Caleb in the Bible
The man who wholly followed the LORD. Name meaning: Son of Jephunneh, called “the Kenizzite” (Num 32:12); the Bible does not give the meaning of his name
Caleb, son of Jephunneh, of the tribe of Judah, is one of the twelve men sent to explore Canaan. With Joshua, he is the only one to say, “Let us go up at once, and possess it” (Num 13:30) when the other ten describe an unconquerable land. Because he “hath followed me fully,” he outlives the whole wilderness era and, at eighty-five, receives Hebron, which he conquers from the three sons of Anak (Josh 14:10-14; 15:13-14).
Key moments
- He represents Judah among the twelve spies Numbers 13:6
- He quiets the people: “Let us go up at once, and possess it” Numbers 13:30
- He tears his clothes with Joshua: “the LORD is with us” Numbers 14:6–9
- God calls him “my servant,” with another spirit Numbers 14:24
- At eighty-five, he asks for the hill country of Hebron Joshua 14:10–12
- He drives the three sons of Anak out of Hebron Joshua 15:14
- He gives his daughter Achsah to Othniel, conqueror of Debir Joshua 15:16–17
Strengths
- Faith
- Courage
- Wholehearted loyalty
- Perseverance
- Generosity
Weaknesses
Scripture records no fault in Caleb. He simply had to wait forty-five years, surrounded by an unbelieving generation, before seeing the promise fulfilled (Josh 14:10). And he stays clear-eyed, even at eighty-five: “If so be the LORD will be with me” (Josh 14:12).
Lessons for today
- Facing the same obstacles as everyone else, Caleb counts on the LORD rather than on the size of the giants: “we are well able to overcome it” (Num 13:30; 14:9).
- Faith sometimes has to stand alone: Caleb contradicts ten spies and a congregation ready to stone him (Num 14:6-10).
- Following God “fully” is recognized and rewarded, even after decades of waiting (Num 14:24; Deut 1:36; Josh 14:10-14).
- You do not coast on past victories: at eighty-five, Caleb asks for the hardest mountain, not a quiet retirement (Josh 14:11-12).
And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.
But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it.
And now, behold, the Lord hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the Lord spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in. Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said.
People around Caleb
Stories with Caleb
Quiz: how well do you know Caleb?
Which tribe did Caleb represent among the twelve spies?
“Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh.” Joshua, the other faithful spy, represented Ephraim under the name Oshea. Numbers 13:6
Complete Caleb’s words: “Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to …”
Caleb told the grumbling people, “Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.” The others answered that they could not go up. Numbers 13:30–31
Which city did Joshua give Caleb as an inheritance?
Joshua blessed Caleb, son of Jephunneh, “and gave unto Caleb… Hebron for an inheritance.” The city was formerly called Kiriath-arba. Joshua 14:13–15
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