.
The Man Who Desired a Mountain
Caleb : son
of Jephunneh
“Now therefore give me this mountain.”
25 At the end of forty days they returned from spying out the land.26 And they came to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation of the people of Israel in the wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh. They brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. 27 And they told him, “We came to the land to which you sent us. It flows with milk and honey,and this is its fruit. 28 However, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. And besides, we saw the descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the Negeb. The Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the hill country. And the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and along the Jordan.”
30 But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.” Numbers 13:25-30 English Standard Version (ESV)
Caleb was one of the chief spies sent out by Moses. He was courageous and persevered when the other spies became discouraged.
He was invincible in driving out giants, completely devoted to God and vigorous in old age.
Six times it is recorded of Caleb, “he hath fully followed the Lord.”
24 But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it. Numbers 14:24
65 For the Lord had said of them, “They shall die in the wilderness.” Not one of them was left, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun. Numbers 26:65
38 Of those men who went to spy out the land, only Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive. Numbers 14:38
12 none except Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua the son of Nun, for they have wholly followed the Lord.’ Numbers 32:12
36 except Caleb the son of Jephunneh. He shall see it, and to him and to his children I will give the land on which he has trodden, because he has wholly followed the Lord!’ Deuteronomy 1:36
14 Therefore Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed theLord, the God of Israel. Joshua 14:14
His consecration was thorough. What magnificent adverbs are used to describe Caleb. He followed faithfully, wholly, fully. He never lowered his standards, but was perpetually wholehearted.
His courage was unfaltering. Giants did not disturb Caleb nor did those dastards who were ready to stone him.
His request was answered. To Caleb, whose life was woven of one piece throughout, reward crowned his faith and faithfulness.
Through autumn winds and premonitions of snow, he brought forth fruit in his old age.
When we come to the record of Caleb’s personal inheritance in the land of Canaan we find him at eighty years of age asking of Joshua, “Now therefore give me this mountain.”
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13 Then Joshua blessed him, and he gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance. Joshua 14:13 .
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13 Then Joshua blessed him, and he gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance. Joshua 14:13 .
Caleb was a man of altitudes. He was not content with the average or the commonplace. He never thought in terms of fences or walled cities.
It was the heights for Caleb, and although the mountain he wanted was filled with hostile Anakims, he refused defeat and claimed his inheritance.
14 And Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak, Sheshai and Ahiman and Talmai, the descendants of Anak. Joshua 15:14
At long last a worthy recompense came to this noble man for “to patient faith the prize is sure.”
30 not one shall come into the land where I swore that I would make you dwell, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun. Numbers 14:30
All the Men of the Bible by Herbert Lockyer
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