Joshua 14:5
The people of Israel did as the LORD commanded Moses; they allotted the land.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse doesn't just say they received the land, but that they actively divided it. This highlights their participation; the promised land wasn't simply dropped into their laps, but required their obedience and cooperation in taking possession according to God's command.
After years of wandering and conquest, the Israelites are finally ready to settle in the Promised Land. Led by Joshua and Eleazar, they begin the momentous task of dividing the land of Canaan among the tribes according to God's earlier commands given to Moses. This verse marks the formal beginning of that inheritance process, though the actual distribution would take considerable time.
The Israelites are finally in the Promised Land, but how do they actually get their inheritance? It’s not a free-for-all!
Joshua 14:5 states, 'As the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did, and they divided the land.' This verse highlights a crucial principle: God’s promises are fulfilled through obedient human action.
God's Plan, Moses' Instructions
God’s commands, passed through Moses, laid the groundwork for this massive undertaking. This wasn't a haphazard takeover. The division of the land was a carefully orchestrated process, involving leaders like Joshua, Eleazar the priest, and the heads of the tribes.
The Role of Leadership
These leaders weren't just delegating; they were ensuring the divine instructions were followed precisely. They initiated the process of dividing the land, which, as commentaries note, required significant time for surveying and geographical arrangement, beginning at Gilgal and continuing later. It wasn't instantaneous but a methodical execution of God’s will.
While the land is being divided, one man steps forward with a bold request. His story reveals a unique faith that shaped his inheritance.
The narrative surrounding Joshua 14:5 quickly shifts to Caleb’s story (v. 6-15). While the land was being allotted by lot and through the established leadership, Caleb didn’t wait for the lot. He actively requested a specific, challenging territory – the mountainous region of Hebron, inhabited by giants.
Faith in Action
Caleb's request wasn't born of greed, but of a deep, unwavering trust in God’s promise. He had followed the Lord wholeheartedly for decades, even when others had faltered. He believed God would give him the strength to conquer the giants, just as God had promised through Moses (v. 12).
A Unique Inheritance
Caleb’s claim was an extraordinary one. It bypassed the typical lot system, illustrating that God’s promises can lead to an inheritance beyond the ordinary. His inheritance wasn’t just land; it was a testament to his faithfulness and God’s power to fulfill His word, even in the most daunting circumstances.
This verse highlights the meticulous fulfillment of God's promises, even in the midst of ongoing conquest. The division of the land wasn't just a geographical distribution; it was a sacred act of obedience, carried out by appointed leaders and grounded in God's commands to Moses.
c. 1405 BC
Israel enters Canaan
After 40 years in the wilderness, the Israelites, led by Joshua, cross the Jordan River and enter the Promised Land, beginning the conquest.
c. 1405-1390 BC
Conquest of Canaan
Joshua leads the Israelite tribes in a series of military campaigns to subdue the Canaanite city-states and establish a foothold in the land.
c. 1399 BC— this verse
Caleb receives Hebron
Caleb, having faithfully spied out the land years before, claims his inheritance in Hebron, a challenging but promised territory, demonstrating faith amidst ongoing conflict.
c. 1399 BC onwards
Division of the land begins
The process of allotting land to the nine and a half tribes begins, based on divine command and executed by Joshua, Eleazar, and tribal leaders, though the full division takes many years.
This passage highlights that the land was to be divided by lot, directly linking to Joshua 14:5 where it's stated the Israelites followed God's command to divide the land as established by Moses.
Deuteronomy 1:38It recalls God's promise to Joshua that he would be the one to divide the inheritance to the people of Israel, reinforcing Joshua's role and the divine authority behind the land division mentioned in Joshua 14:5.
Joshua 18:10This verse describes Joshua setting up the remaining divisions of the land by lot after the initial distribution, showing the ongoing process that began with the actions described in Joshua 14:5.
Hebrews 11:9This verse speaks of Abraham living as an alien in the promised land, emphasizing it was an inheritance he received by faith, a concept that underlies the Israelites' faithful obedience in possessing and dividing the land as commanded.
calvinJoshua 14:1-15: "And these are the countries which the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed for inheritance to them."
- And these are the countries which the children of Israel inherited in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed for…
gillJoshua 14:5: "As the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did, and they divided the land."
As the Lord commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did,.... Particularly with respect to the division of the land, and making provision for the Levites; this they did by their heads and representatives, the high priest and chief ruler, and the princes of the several tribes: and they divided the land; met about it, and began to take measures in order to do it; they prepared for it, though as…
The verse doesn't just say they received the land, but that they actively divided it. This highlights their participation; the promised land wasn't simply dropped into their laps, but required their obedience and cooperation in taking possession according to God's command.
After years of wandering and conquest, the Israelites are finally ready to settle in the Promised Land. Led by Joshua and Eleazar, they begin the momentous task of dividing the land of Canaan among the tribes according to God's earlier commands given to Moses. This verse marks the formal beginning of that inheritance process, though the actual distribution would take considerable time.
After years of wandering and conquest, the Israelites are finally ready to settle in the Promised Land. Led by Joshua and Eleazar, they begin the momentous task of dividing the land of Canaan among the tribes according to God's earlier commands given to Moses. This verse marks the formal beginning of that inheritance process, though the actual distribution would take considerable time.
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c. 1385 BC
Joshua's death
Joshua, the great leader, dies after overseeing the conquest and the initial stages of land distribution, leaving the completion of the division to others.
"The people of Israel did as the LORD commanded Moses; they allotted the land." — The verse doesn't just say they received the land, but that they actively divided it. This highlights their participation; the promised land wasn't simply dropped into their laps, but required th…
