Joshua 15:13-15
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What's easily missed here is that Hebron, a city central to Caleb's inheritance, isn't just any city; it's named after Arba, the "father of Anak." This detail connects Caleb's hard-won victory to the original giants of the land, highlighting that his inheritance was not only a reward for faith but also a significant blow against the formidable forces that had previously occupied Canaan.
According to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua, he gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh a portion among the people of Judah, Kiriath-arba, that is, Hebron (Arba was the father of Anak). And Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak, Sheshai and Ahiman and Talmai, the descendants of Anak. And he went up from there against the inhabitants of Debir. Now the name of Debir formerly was Kiriath-sepher.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Joshua is detailing the territories assigned to the tribe of Judah, following the division of the land after the conquest. This specific verse highlights a special grant made to Caleb, a loyal follower of Moses and Joshua. Hebron, a significant and ancient city, is given to Caleb not by lot, but directly by Joshua in fulfillment of a divine promise made years earlier.
Why does the Bible make a point of saying Joshua gave Hebron to Caleb 'according to the commandment of the LORD'?
This verse highlights the faithfulness of God and the importance of His commands.
Divine Instruction:
The text explicitly states that Joshua gave this portion to Caleb according to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua. This wasn't Joshua's personal decision or a political favor. It was a direct instruction from God, stemming from an earlier promise made to Caleb.
The Promise's Origin:
Decades earlier, Caleb had faithfully served God and the people of Israel. When the spies returned from Canaan, Caleb, unlike the others, brought back a positive report and trusted God's promise. As a reward for his faithfulness, God promised him and his descendants the land he had set his feet upon (Deuteronomy 1:36).
Fulfillment in Time:
Joshua, as the successor to Moses, was tasked with carrying out this divine directive. Hebron, a significant city, was designated for Caleb, demonstrating that God's promises, even those made long ago, are ultimately fulfilled.
Hebron wasn't just any city; it was known for its formidable inhabitants. How does this change how we see Caleb's inheritance?
The verse identifies Hebron as 'the city of Arba the father of Anak.' This detail is crucial because Anakim (descendants of Anak) were giants, known for their imposing stature and the fear they instilled.
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The Challenge of Anakim:
When the Israelite spies first scouted the land decades earlier, they reported that the land was occupied by giants (Numbers 13:33). This report terrified the people and led to their forty years of wandering. Hebron was a stronghold of these giants.
Caleb's Boldness:
Caleb, however, didn't shrink back. He specifically asked for this challenging territory, trusting God's strength to overcome the inhabitants. Receiving Hebron was not just receiving land; it was receiving a place previously deemed unconquerable by human standards. It was a tangible symbol of faith triumphing over fear and impossible odds.
Understand the original words
peh · Hebrew Noun
An authoritative decree or charge issued by a superior, specifically used to refer to the divine instructions given by God to His people or His appointed leaders.
YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun
The personal name of the one true God of Israel, revealing His covenantal character, faithfulness, and self-existence to His people.
cheleq · Hebrew Noun
A hereditary portion of land or position given by God to individuals or tribes as a fulfillment of His promises; it signifies belonging and security.
Anaq · Hebrew Proper Noun
Often referring to a legendary group of giants or formidable inhabitants in the land of Canaan, representing the significant obstacles and spiritual enemies that Israel had to overcome through faith and obedience to God.
yarash · Hebrew Verb
The act of expelling, dispossessing, or removing enemies or occupants from land, frequently used in the context of Israel’s conquest to signify the removal of idolatrous influences as commanded by God.
This verse highlights the fulfillment of a specific promise made by God decades earlier to Caleb, demonstrating the LORD's faithfulness and the importance of courage and faith in claiming His promises, even when facing formidable opposition.
c. 1405 BC
Israelites Enter Canaan
After 40 years in the wilderness, the Israelites, led by Joshua, cross the Jordan River and begin their conquest of the Promised Land, as commanded by the LORD.
c. 1405 BC
Caleb Claims His Inheritance
During the initial stages of the land division, the faithful Caleb reminds Joshua and the people of God's promise to him and requests the challenging hill country of Hebron, which was inhabited by the Anakim.
c. 1405 BC— this verse
Joshua Assigns Hebron to Caleb
Joshua, acting on the LORD's prior commandment to Moses and confirming Caleb's faithful request, grants Hebron and its surrounding territory to Caleb as his inheritance within the tribal lands of Judah.
c. 1405-1395 BC
Division of Canaan
Joshua oversees the casting of lots to divide the remaining lands of Canaan among the twelve tribes of Israel, formally establishing their territories.
c. 1375 BC
Judah Completes Conquest of Hebron
Following Joshua's death, the tribe of Judah, led by Caleb, wages a successful campaign to fully dispossess the Anakim from Hebron and its vicinity, securing Caleb's inheritance.
This verse mentions Hebron and the Anakim, the same giants Caleb conquered, highlighting the ancient significance and challenge of this territory.
Deuteronomy 1:36This passage shows God's promise to Caleb to inherit the land, directly preceding the fulfillment described in Joshua 15:13 and reinforcing the divine authority behind the grant.
Joshua 14:6-15This passage details Caleb's original request for Hebron and his faith-filled claim, setting the immediate context for why he was given this specific inheritance.
Judges 1:10-15This parallel account shows the ongoing conquest of Hebron by Judah after Joshua's death, indicating that Caleb's inheritance was part of a larger, prolonged struggle for the land.
calvinJoshua 15:1-13: "This then was the lot of the tribe of the children of Judah by their families; even to the border of Edom the wilderness of Zin southward was the uttermost part of the south coast."
And it went out to the south side to Maalehacrabbim, and passed along to Zin, and ascended up on the south side unto Kadeshbarnea, and passed along to Hezron, and went up to Adar, and fetched a compass to Karkaa:
Et egreditur versus meridiem Maale-acrabim, et illinc transit in Sin: progredien…
gillJoshua 15:13: "And unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a part among the children of Judah, according to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua, even the city of Arba the father of Anak, which city is Hebron."
And unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a part among the children of Judah,.... That is, Joshua gave it to him. This account is inserted before the cities in the lot of the tribe of Judah were enumerated, to show what was to be excepted from them, and which had been given to Caleb p…
What's easily missed here is that Hebron, a city central to Caleb's inheritance, isn't just any city; it's named after Arba, the "father of Anak." This detail connects Caleb's hard-won victory to the original giants of the land, highlighting that his inheritance was not only a reward for faith but also a significant blow against the formidable forces that had previously occupied Canaan.
Joshua is detailing the territories assigned to the tribe of Judah, following the division of the land after the conquest. This specific verse highlights a special grant made to Caleb, a loyal follower of Moses and Joshua. Hebron, a significant and ancient city, is given to Caleb not by lot, but directly by Joshua in fulfillment of a divine promise made years earlier.
Joshua is detailing the territories assigned to the tribe of Judah, following the division of the land after the conquest. This specific verse highlights a special grant made to Caleb, a loyal follower of Moses and Joshua. Hebron, a significant and ancient city, is given to Caleb not by lot, but directly by Joshua in fulfillment of a divine promise made years earlier.
"According to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua, he gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh a portion among the people of Judah, Kiriath-arba, that is, Hebron (Arba was the father of Anak). And Caleb drove out from there the three sons of An…" — What's easily missed here is that Hebron, a city central to Caleb's inheritance, isn't just any city; it's named after Arba, the "father of Anak." This detail connects Caleb's hard-won victory to t…
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Last reviewed October 2026
