CALEB, the Son of Jephunneh, of the Tribe of Judah, was sent with Joshua, and ten other Deputies, chosen out of the twelve Tribes of Israel, to go and view the Numb. xiii. 2. & seq.Land of Canaan, which God had promised them. The Deputies performed exactly their Commission; they went through the whole Country, and brought some of the finest Fruits which it produced, to shew the Multitude of their Brethren; but some of them, after the Report which they had made of the beauty and goodness of the Country, added, It is indeed a Country flowing with Milk and Honey, but the Inhabitants of it are of an extraordinary Strength, and the Cities belonging to it are large, and inclosed within good Walls. In the mean time, as the People began to murmur, Caleb the Son of Jephunneh said to them; The Country is excellent, let us go boldly and take possession of it. But the In the year of the World 2514, before the vulgar Æra 1490, Caleb was then 40 years of age.other Deputies who had been with him, on the contrary told the People, that they could never make themselves Masters of it; because the Inhabitants, who possessed it, were stronger than they were. We have seen Giants there, said they, in comparison of whom, we appear but as so many Grasshoppers.
Hereupon the People openly declared against this Expedition, and said, Had we not better return into Egypt, than perish, we and our Children, in this Country? let us choose a Captain, and under his Conduct return into Egypt. At these words Moses and Aaron fell on their Faces before the whole multitude then assembled; and Joshua and Caleb rent their Clothes, and began to encourage the Israelites, telling them, that the Country which they had seen was excellent; and that if God were with them, they might easily make a Conquest of it. Only rebel not against the Lord, said they; our Enemies are without any succour, and we shall devour them like Bread. But the People being enraged, made a great outcry, and took up Stones to stone them. Then the Glory of the Lord appeared upon the Tabernacle, and threatned to exterminate the whole Multitude. But Moses prayed for them so earnestly, that God was pleased not to destroy them immediately; but protested with an Oath, that none of those who had murmured against him, should see the Land of Canaan, and that they should all die in the Wilderness. But for my Servant Caleb, added he, who hath faithfully followed me, him will I bring into the Land, and he shall possess it, he and his Children after him.
Josh. xiv. 6, 7.When Joshua therefore had entred into the Land of Canaan, and had conquered a great part of it, Caleb, with those of his Tribe, came as far as Gilgal to see him; and Caleb said to him, Thou knowest what the Lord said to Moses in my Favour, and the promises which he made me. I was forty years old, when Moses the Servant of the In the year of the World 2559, before the vulgar Æra 1445, Caleb was then 85 years of age. Josh. xv. 13, 14.Lord sent me from Kadesh-Barnea, to view the Country into which we are now entered. I made my Report with great Truth, and suppressed as far as I was able the Murmurs of the People. Then the Lord said to me, Thou shalt possess the Land which thou hast visited, thou and thy Posterity after thee, because thou hast followed the Lord. God hath preserved my Life unto this Day; five and forty Years are now past, since the Lord made me these promises; I am now above fourscore, my health and strength are not impaired: Give me, I pray thee, this Mountain, where the Anakims dwell, that I may take Possession of it. Joshua bestowed a great many Blessings on him, and granted him his Request.
Caleb therefore marched with those of his Tribe, against the City of Kirjath-arba, afterwards called Hebron; and having taken it, he killed three Giants of the Race of Anak, viz. Sheshai, Ahiman and Talmai. From thence he went to Debir, otherwise Kirjath-sepher. As this place was extremely strong, Caleb promised, that whoever took it, should marry his Daughter Achsah. Othniel the Son of Kenaz took it, and accordingly had Caleb’s Daughter. This brave Israelite is thought to have survived Joshua. But the time of his death we are not acquainted with.