Joshua 14:13-15 (ESV)
Then Joshua blessed him, and he gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance. Therefore Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed the LORD, the God of Israel. Now the name of Hebron formerly was Kiriath-arba. (Arba was the greatest man among the Anakim.) And the land had rest from war.
As the nation of Israel conquers this promised land, there is now coming a time for Joshua, the leader after Moses, to give each tribe their inheritance. Besides Joshua, Caleb is the oldest living person in Israel, at this time. He may have been older than Joshua. Caleb is now 85 years old. To better understand the above text (Joshua blessing Caleb with this land called Hebron), we have to read the prior few verses:
Joshua 14:10-12 (ESV)
And now, behold, the LORD has kept me alive, just as he said, these forty-five years since the time that the LORD spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness. And now, behold, I am this day eighty-five years old. I am still as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me; my strength now is as my strength was then, for war and for going and coming. So now give me this hill country of which the LORD spoke on that day, for you heard on that day how the Anakim were there, with great fortified cities. It may be that the LORD will be with me, and I shall drive them out just as the LORD said.”
Caleb is not waiting for Joshua to decide what lands he wants to give Caleb. No, instead Caleb goes to Joshua to explain to him what he wants. At 85 he does not want a retirement village along a riverbed, where he can rest and recreate all day. No, Caleb goes to Joshua demanding the hill country, where the giant Anakim are located, in their fortified cities. This persistence paid off and Caleb gets his wish. Note hat happens later for Caleb and his family:
Joshua 15:13-19 (ESV)
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. And Caleb said, “Whoever strikes Kiriath-sepher and captures it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter as wife.” And Othniel the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb, captured it. And he gave him Achsah his daughter as wife. When she came to him, she urged him to ask her father for a field. And she got off her donkey, and Caleb said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Give me a blessing. Since you have given me the land of the Negeb, give me also springs of water.” And he gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.
Caleb should be the story of every believer today. We are not to get saved and sit in the most comfortable pews of the church. We are to conquer. We are to go out and kill giants. The older we are in the faith the more work we should demand and in Spirit led faithfulness, we should demonstrate strength from the Lord. You might retire from an occupation and gather your pension, but there are spiritual giants that are still needing to be conquered and it is aged and spiritually strong that makes that happen.
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