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The Beginning of the End
had the duty to fully conquer its own inheritance. If the people were
faithful to God, He would drive out their enemies in front of them.
The location for each tribe was determined by casting lots.
Moses himself
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had set the borders of the country as it was to be divided among
the tribes, and he had appointed a prince from each tribe to oversee
the distribution. Forty-eight cities in various parts of the country
were assigned to the Levites as their inheritance.
Caleb Asks for the Most Difficult Place
Caleb and Joshua were the only ones among the original twelve
spies who had brought a good report of the Land of Promise, en-
couraging the people to go up and take it in the name of the Lord.
Caleb now reminded Joshua of the promise then made, as the reward
of his faithfulness: “Surely the land where your foot has trodden
shall be your inheritance and your children’s forever, because you
have wholly followed the Lord.” He therefore requested that Hebron
be given him as his territory. This had been the home of Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob, and here, in the cave of Machpelah, they were
buried.
Hebron was the headquarters of the dreaded Anakim, whose im-
pressive appearance had terrified the spies and destroyed the courage
of all Israel. This was the place that Caleb, trusting in the strength
of God, chose for his inheritance.
“Behold, the Lord has kept me alive,” he said, “these forty-five
years, ever since the Lord spoke this word to Moses ...; and now,
here I am this day, eighty-five years old. As yet I am as strong this
day as on the day that Moses sent me; just as my strength was then,
so now is my strength for war, both for going out and for coming in.
Now therefore, give me this mountain of which the Lord spoke in
that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and
that the cities were great and fortified. It may be that the Lord will
be with me, and I shall be able to drive them out as the Lord said.”
His claim was immediately granted. “Joshua blessed him, and
gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance,”
“because he wholly followed the Lord God of Israel.” Caleb had
believed God’s promise that He would give His people possession