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John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 14:9

Verse 9 9.And Moses swear on that day, etc Here, then, is one fruit of the embassy honestly and faithfully performed — to gain possession of an inheritance of which the whole people is deprived. For although long life is justly accounted one of the mercies of God, the end proposed by it is here added, viz., that Caleb may obtain the inheritance which is denied to others. This was no ordinary privilege. He next extols the faithfulness of God in having prolonged his life, and not only so, but... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Joshua 14:13

Verse 13 13.And Joshua blessed him, etc He prayed thus earnestly to show the delight he felt. For it was expedient by way of example to extol his valor, by which others might be incited to surmount all their fears. For it was just as if he had gained an eminence from which he could look down upon the giants. The blessing of Caleb, therefore, includes in it praise which may have the effect of an exhortation to the people. In the end of the chapter it is said, that the name of Hebron was... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 14:6

In Gilgal (see Joshua 9:6 ). Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite. Or, descendant of Kenaz, as was his kinsman Othniel. As far as we can make out from the genealogy in 1 Chronicles 2:1-55 , Caleb and Kenaz were family names, for the Caleb or Calubi ( 1 Chronicles 2:9 ) the son of Hezron ( 1 Chronicles 2:18 ), the Caleb the son of Hur ( 1 Chronicles 2:50 ), and Caleb the son of Jephunneh ( 1 Chronicles 4:15 ), could not have been the same persons. And Caleb was a Kenezite,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 14:6-15

Caleb's faithfulness and its reward. The history of Caleb seems to have a special fascination for the sacred historian. We read of him here, and in the next chapter, and in 1:1-36 . Whether this were due to his bravery, his sincerity, his hale and hearty old age, or (see note on 1:6 ) his foreign extraction, coupled with his zeal for his adopted country and tribe, or from the combination of all these, it is not necessary to decide. Sufficient to remark I. THE BRAVE MAN WINS ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 14:6-15

Caleb. I. THE CHARACTER OF CALEB . II. THE REWARD OF CALEB . read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 14:7

Forty years old. The Hebrew expression is "the son of forty years." Compare the expressions "son of man," "sons of Belial," "son of the perverse re. bellious woman." As it was in my heart. Literally, according as with my heart, i.e; in agreement with what I saw and felt. The LXX . reads "according to his mind," i.e; that of Moses. Houbigant and Le Clerc approve of this reading, but it seems quite out of keeping with the character of Caleb. He did not endeavour to accommodate his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 14:8

But I wholly followed. Literally, "I fulfilled after." That is to say, he rendered a full obedience to the precepts of the Most High. So also in the next verse. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 14:8

I wholly followed the Lord my God. I. TRUE RELIGION IS BASED ON PERSONAL RELATIONS WITH GOD . Caleb ascribes his courage and fidelity to his connection with God, and he speaks of the Lord as "my God." II. RIGHT PERSONAL RELATIONS WITH GOD WILL BE SHOWN BY OUR FOLLOWING HIM . It is not sufficient that we believe, worship, manifest affection. We must show our devotion by a consistent course of life. III. WE ONLY FOLLOW GOD ARIGHT ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 14:8

Personal influence. Assuredly no Israelite could look without emotion upon the face and form of Caleb, the utterer of the words of the text. His very existence was a memorial of a memorable day. And when he arose and stood before Joshua, and the two engaged in the conversation recorded in this chapter, who could note them without recollecting that out of the laymen of Israel they were the only survivors of the generation to which they belonged? Like venerable towers that rear their heads... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Joshua 14:9

And Moses sware on that day (cf. Numbers 14:21-24 ; Deuteronomy 1:35 , Deuteronomy 1:36 ). Keil raises the difficulty that in the above passage not Moses, but God is said to have sworn, and that no special inheritance is promised to Caleb, but only that he shall enter the promised land. But this is not the fact, as a comparison of this passage with Deuteronomy 1:36 will show. That either passage gives the ipsissima verba of Moses is unlikely. The main sense of the promise is given... read more

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