Tribal lands west of the Jordan

1-5Nine and a half tribes still did not have any land, although two and a half tribes had already received land east of the River Jordan. Moses had divided that land among them, and he had also said that the Levi tribe would not receive a large region like the other tribes. Instead, the people of Levi would receive towns and the nearby pastures for their sheep, goats, and cattle. And since the descendants of Joseph had become the two tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, there were still nine and a half tribes that needed land. The LORD had told Moses that he would show those tribes14.1-5 he would show those tribes: The Hebrew text has “those tribes must cast lots to find out.” Pieces of wood or stone (called “lots”) were used to find out what God wanted his people to do. how to divide up the land of Canaan.14.2: Nu 26.52-56; 34.13.14.3,4: Nu 32.33; 34.14,15; Dt 3.12-17.

When the priest Eleazar, Joshua, and the leaders of the families and tribes of Israel met to divide up the land of Canaan, the LORD showed them how to do it.

Joshua gives Hebron to Caleb

6One day while the Israelites were still camped at Gilgal, Caleb the son of Jephunneh went to talk with Joshua. Caleb belonged to the Kenaz clan, and many other people from the Judah tribe went with Caleb. He told Joshua:14.6: Nu 14.30.

You know that back in Kadesh-Barnea the LORD talked to his prophet Moses about you and me. 7I was forty years old at the time Moses sent me from Kadesh-Barnea into Canaan as a spy. When I came back and told him about the land, everything I said was true.14.7: Nu 13.1-30. 8The other spies said things that made our people afraid, but I completely trusted the LORD God. 9The same day I came back, Moses told me, “Since you were faithful to the LORD God, I promise that the places where you went as a spy will belong to you and your descendants for ever.”14.9: Nu 14.24.

10Joshua, it was forty-five years ago that the LORD told Moses to make that promise, and now I am eighty-five. Even though Israel has moved from place to place in the desert, the LORD has kept me alive all this time as he said he would. 11I'm just as strong today as I was then, and I can still fight as well in battle.

12So I'm asking you for the hill country that the LORD promised me that day. You were there. You heard the other spies talk about that part of the hill country and the large, walled towns where the Anakim14.12 Anakim: See the note at 11.21. live. But perhaps the LORD will help me take their land, just as he promised.

13Joshua prayed that God would help Caleb, then he gave Hebron to Caleb and his descendants. 14And Hebron still belongs to Caleb's descendants, because he was faithful to the LORD God of Israel.

15Hebron used to be called Arba's Town,14.15 Arba's Town: Or “Kiriath-Arba”. because Arba had been one of the greatest14.15 Arba's Town, because…greatest: Hebrew; one ancient translation “Arba's Town. It was one of the main towns.” of the Anakim.

There was peace in the land.