Commentary on Joshua - Keil & Delitzsch - David Cox

Keil and Delitzsch <strong>Commentary</strong> on the Old Testament
itself, and that Joshua, who heard it at the time, is here reminded of that promise by
Caleb. This particular promise from God was closely related to the words with which
Caleb endeavoured to calm the minds of the people when they rose up against Moses
(Num 13:30), viz., by saying to them, "We are well able to overcome it,"
notwithstanding the Anakites who dwelt in Hebron and had filled the other spies with
such great alarm on account of their gigantic size.
With reference to this the Lord had promised that very land to Caleb for his
inheritance. Upon this promise Caleb founded his request (vv. 10-12) that Joshua
would give him these mountains, of which Joshua had heard at that time that there
were Anakites and large fortified cities there, inasmuch as, although forty-five years
had elapsed since God had spoken these words, and he was now eighty-five years old,
he was quite as strong as he had been then. From the words, "The Lord hath kept me
alive these forty-five years," Theodoret justly infers, that the conquest of Canaan by
Joshua was completed in seven years, since God spake these words towards the end
of the second year after the exodus from Egypt, and therefore thirty-eight years
before the entrance into Canaan. The clause wgw' haalakª (OT:3212) 'asher
(OT:834) (v. 10) is also dependent upon wgw' 'arªbaa`iym (OT:705) zeh (OT:2088):
viz., "these forty-five years that Israel has wandered in the desert" (on this use of
'asher (OT:834), see Ewald , §331, c. ). The expression is a general one, and the
years occupied in the conquest of Canaan, during which Israel had not yet entered
into peaceful possession of the promised land, are reckoned as forming part of the
years of wandering in the desert. As another reason for his request, Caleb adds in v.
11: "I am still as strong to-day as at that time; as my strength was then, so is it now
for war, and to go out and in" (see Num 27:17).
Joshua 14:12
Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for
thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were
great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive
them out, as the LORD said.
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