Caleb, Moses’ Man

Numbers 14:26-30. Caleb became one of the leaders of Israel after Joshua had died.

Caleb was Joshua’s assistant who had gone with him to spy out the land of Canaan. Because of the delay caused by the people’s unbelief, Caleb was 85 years old when he finally entered the promised land.

Caleb was from the tribe of Judah and was a leader of Israel after the death of Joshua. He was a prince of Judah as the leader of the Hezronites, while Nahshon was the prince of the whole tribe of Judah.

He was bold, impetuous, courageous, consecrated to God, vigorous and faithful in old age and invincible because he drove out the giants from his inheritance.

Caleb was given the land promised to him by Joshua, which was the land of the Anakim, Kirjatharba or Hebron and the neighboring hill country.

Caleb in Hebrew means: a dog.

Background Reading:

Caleb

14:26 The LORD said to Moses and Aaron:27 “How long will this wicked community grumble against me? I have heard the complaints of these grumbling Israelites. 28 So tell them, ‘As surely as I live’, declares the
LORD, I will do to you the very things I heard you say: 29
In this desert your bodies will fall—every one of you twenty years old or more who was counted in the census and who has grumbled against me. 30 Not one of you will enter the land I swore with
uplifted hand to make your home, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.”
Numbers 14:26–30

More Information:

Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, was 40 years old when he became one of the 12 spies sent by Moses into the promised land. He and Joshua were the only two spies who brought back a good report about the land and believed that God could help them to take it. Much later, Caleb became one of the leaders of Israel after the death of Joshua.

Caleb, which means in Hebrew a dog, was bold, impetuous, courageous, consecrated to God, vigorous and faithful in old age and invincible because he drove out the giants from his inheritance when he was 85 years old.   Read more »

As part of the Hezronites, Caleb was a prince of Judah, while Nahson was the prince of the whole tribe of Judah.


Other slides in this module: