And Hebron was given to Caleb, as Moses had said. And he drove out from it the three sons of Anak.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse highlights that Caleb didn't just receive Hebron; he actively expelled the formidable Anakim from it. This wasn't a passive inheritance but a victory claimed, fulfilling Moses' promise and showcasing Caleb's persistent faith and courage even as the rest of Israel struggled to fully conquer the land.
And Hebron was given to Caleb, as Moses had said. And he drove out from it the three sons of Anak.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse continues the account of the tribes of Israel beginning their conquest of Canaan after Joshua's death. It specifically highlights how Caleb, an elder who had faithfully followed God, received the city of Hebron as promised, fulfilling a directive given by Moses decades earlier. This action is part of Judah's broader effort to drive out the inhabitants of the land, though the text implies this was not a complete or unified success for all tribes.
God's promises are sure, but sometimes they require a lifetime of faithful pursuit. Caleb's story is a powerful testament to this.
Caleb had been promised Hebron forty-five years earlier by Moses himself (Numbers 14:24). This promise was a direct reward for his faithfulness as a spy, contrasting sharply with the fear and rebellion of the other ten spies.
Despite the long wait and the presence of formidable giants (the sons of Anak) in Hebron, Caleb, now an old man, finally takes possession of his inheritance. This wasn't just a passive reception; he actively drove out the inhabitants, demonstrating his courage and the fulfillment of God's word through his persistent faith.
The 'sons of Anak' weren't just physical threats; they represented the deep-seated fears and obstacles that stand between us and God's promises.
Hebron was known as the home of giants, specifically the sons of Anak (Numbers 13:22). These were formidable people, terrifying to the Israelites during the Exodus. Facing them required more than just military might; it demanded unwavering faith in God's power to grant victory.
Caleb's successful expulsion of these inhabitants signifies the triumph over not only external enemies but also the internal giants of fear and doubt that plagued the Israelite nation. His action shows that with God, even the most intimidating obstacles can be overcome.
Understand the original words
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kalev · Hebrew Proper Noun
A man of faith known for his courage and faithfulness during the reconnaissance of Canaan; he represents the generation that fully trusted God’s promise to inherit the land.
anaq · Hebrew Proper Noun
Often associated with the Nephilim or giants in Numbers 13, the Anakim represent the formidable spiritual and physical adversaries that Israel had to overcome through divine enablement.
c. 1405 BC
Israel Enters Canaan
Following Moses' death, Joshua leads the Israelites across the Jordan River, beginning their conquest of the Promised Land.
c. 1405 BC— this verse
Caleb Claims His Inheritance
Moses had promised Caleb the land of Hebron for his faithfulness as a spy years earlier. Caleb now formally requests and receives it during the initial division of the land.
c. 1405 BC
Initial Conquest of Hebron
Caleb, with the support of the tribe of Judah, drives out the Anakim (giants) from Hebron and its surrounding territories.
c. 1375 BC
The Period of the Judges Begins
After Joshua's death, the Israelites lack strong central leadership, leading to a cycle of sin, oppression, crying out to God, and deliverance through judges.
This passage directly echoes God's promise to Caleb, highlighting his unique faithfulness and the divine assurance of his inheritance, reinforcing the fulfillment seen in Judges 1:20.
Joshua 14:13This verse recounts Joshua blessing Caleb and giving him Hebron, a parallel account that shows the official granting of the inheritance promised generations earlier by Moses.
Deuteronomy 1:36Moses himself prophesied that Caleb would possess the land he had 'trodden,' directly linking this promise to Caleb's eventual conquest of Hebron and expulsion of its inhabitants.
Joshua 15:13-14This passage provides the immediate context of Caleb driving out the Anakites from Hebron, further detailing the event that Judges 1:20 summarizes.
gillJudges 1:20: "And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses said: and he expelled thence the three sons of Anak."
And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses said,.... Which was done in the times of Joshua, both by him and all the people, according to the order of Moses. This is to be understood not of the city which was given to the Levites, but of the fields and parts adjacent, Joshua 14:13 , and he expelled thence the three sons of Anak: whose names are given Judges 1:10; this shows that this refe…
clarkeJudges 1:20: "And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses said: and he expelled thence the three sons of Anak."
They gave Hebron unto Caleb - See this whole transaction explained Joshua 14:12 (note), etc.
This verse highlights that Caleb didn't just receive Hebron; he actively expelled the formidable Anakim from it. This wasn't a passive inheritance but a victory claimed, fulfilling Moses' promise and showcasing Caleb's persistent faith and courage even as the rest of Israel struggled to fully conquer the land.
This verse continues the account of the tribes of Israel beginning their conquest of Canaan after Joshua's death. It specifically highlights how Caleb, an elder who had faithfully followed God, received the city of Hebron as promised, fulfilling a directive given by Moses decades earlier. This action is part of Judah's broader effort to drive out the inhabitants of the land, though the text implies this was not a complete or unified success for all tribes.
This verse continues the account of the tribes of Israel beginning their conquest of Canaan after Joshua's death. It specifically highlights how Caleb, an elder who had faithfully followed God, received the city of Hebron as promised, fulfilling a directive given by Moses decades earlier. This action is part of Judah's broader effort to drive out the inhabitants of the land, though the text implies this was not a complete or unified success for all tribes.
"And Hebron was given to Caleb, as Moses had said. And he drove out from it the three sons of Anak." — This verse highlights that Caleb didn't just receive Hebron; he actively expelled the formidable Anakim from it. This wasn't a passive inheritance but a victory claimed, fulfilling Moses' promise a…
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Last reviewed October 2026