Joshua 14 Summary - 5 Minute Bible Study

Joshua 14 Summary - A Quick Overview

WHEN:

• Israel’s conquest of the Promised Land began around 1450 B.C. and lasted approximately 5-7 years.

• Using the age of Caleb mentioned in 14:7-10, we can conclude the events of this chapter took place 45 years after Moses sent the 12 spies into Canaan (Numbers 13).

CHARACTERS:

• Joshua - Moses’ assistant while he led the people in the wilderness. God selected Joshua to lead the Israelites into Canaan after Moses’ death.

• Caleb – Caleb was one of the 12 spies God sent into Canaan to spy out the land in Numbers 13. He was one of only two spies who had faith that God would help them conquer the land (Joshua was the other). Caleb was 40 years old when he was selected as a spy. The events of this chapter occurred 45 years later when he was 85.

• Moses – The leader of the Israelites before Joshua. He led Israel out of Egypt, through the wilderness, and to the border of the Promised Land. He died in Deuteronomy 34.

WHERE:

• The Israelites were camped at Gilgal.

• Joshua 14 and the following chapters record how the Promised Land was divided up between the 12 tribes of Israel.

OUTLINE:

• DIVIDING THE LAND BETWEEN THE TRIBES OF ISRAEL (14:1-5):

  • Joshua 14:1 introduces the topic of the next several chapters, the allotment of land to the tribes of Israel.

  • The portion of land each tribe was to receive was selected by lot.

  • 2 ½ tribes had already received their land east of the Jordan River.

  • The Levites were not allotted a portion of land because they were a special tribe dedicated to the service of God. That said, they did receive certain cities within the territories of the other tribes.  

  • All the other tribes were going to share the land west of Jordan.

• CALEB’S REQUEST (14:6-15):

  • Caleb approached Joshua and asked him to fulfill a promise Moses made to him 45 years earlier.

  • Moses promised Caleb the land he visited on his spying mission would belong to him and his children.

  • Caleb told Joshua he was as strong at 85 as he was at 40, and he asked Joshua to give allot him the hill country where the Anakim lived. The Anakim were a strong people who lived in “great fortified cities.”

  • Caleb believed the Lord would help him overcome the Anakim.

  • Joshua granted Caleb’s request and gave him Hebron.

  • Hebron was formerly named Kiriath-arba. Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim.
    

APPLICATION:

• Make a plan to be ambitious in the Lord’s service in your older years.

• Caleb specifically requested a challenge that required God’s help to complete. He wasn’t interested in a life of ease. He wanted to see God’s power at work in his later years the way he saw it working in his younger years.

• If the Lord lets us grow old, are we going to choose a life of ease that doesn’t require the power of God? Or are we going to choose a life of faith that longs to see His power working through us in the last few years we get on earth?