The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-01
SUNDAY MEDITATION.

Practical Duties Taught by a Study of the Inter
national Sunday -sch0ol Lesson Appointed for
Nov. II. JOSH. 14:5-15.
Zone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures as
indicated above.l
SUBJECT: THE CLAIM OF CALEB To THAT
PORTION OF CANAAN PROMISED TO HIM AT
KADEsH- BARNEA.
l. Time.
The promise was made to Caleb in about the
beginning of the year 2515 A. NJ, nearly two
years after the exodus began. The exodus
commenced in the Spring of 2513 a. M. The
children of Israel were at Kadesh Barnea dur
ing part of the second year of the exodus.
Thirty eight years more of wandering were be-
fore the pilgrims. When the wars were closed
and Canaan in the grasp of the Israelites, Ca
leb was 50 years old. IA: i0) Adding 40, the
age of Caleb at kadcsh- Barnea, and 80, the ad-
ditional number of years of the exodus, and we
have rs, the number of the years of age Of Ca
leb at the close of the exodus. He was SIS years
old when Canaan was practically conquered.
Hence, it required seven years TO settle the ter
rtory. Adding 40, 80 and and we have
So. Practically the promise made to Caleb was
IN the beginning Of the year 25l5 A. NJ. Add
ing IS to 25l5 we have $3.50 A. NJ, the date Of
our lesson. The seven years above equal the
long time" of HIS. The special promise
made to Caleb was based Oh his fidelity as one
of the II spies sent to reconnoiisr Canaan.
2. Where.
The promise was made to Caleb at Kadesh-
Barnea the point in the exodus whence II
spies were sent into Canaan to reconnoiter the
land. ". g.
We may suppose the claim of Caleb, to wit,
to be put in possession of that portion of the
land which had been specially promised to
him, was made at the same Gilgal as that Sc
lected by Joshua to be headquarters of the
Israelites just after crossing the Jordan. 1t
was about six miles from the river and about
one and one-haf miles from Jericho. (Y.6.)
3. Caleb.
The principal character to figure in this les
son is Caleb We notice the following facts as
to him: 1. He was born in Egypt, aslave 2. He
was son of Jephunneh. (Nu., 1876; 1876,
| 49, We do not know the mothers name.
Jephunneh was d descendant of judah and
| lamar. Il CHI, 2:3, A. Among his ancestors
were Phare2 and Heron. Il CHI, 2: 4, 5, 8, 49,
8. He was Of the tribe Of Judah (Nu., 10: 81
a. He was a kenezite. (Gen., 80 Is, 42; NJ,
81 II; JOS, Ii ia; Is: II; Jud., l Is; Ch.,
4:15.) A prominent ancestor of Caleb was
Kena2 Il CHI, A: 49,, and hence Caleb was call
ed Keaezite. Out of respect to said ancestor
Caleb's son, Elah, named one of his own sons
Kenaz. q Ch., 4: 49, s. He was So years old
when he left Egypt, and hence was in bondage
all said years. 6. He was 40 years of age when
he was at Kadesh -Barnea. Josh, 14:7.) We
know that when hewas 40 years old the Israel
ties had passed about two years of their pill
grimage on the way from Egypt to Canaan,
and, therefore, we find he was 80 when
the exodus began. Z. When the Israelites
were at Kadesh- Barnea they were on the
! very borders of southern Canaan. 1t was
therefore decided to send II spies throughout
| the land. (Nu., 1922 Caleb was one of the
!
! 1876; ID: 30. 5. lie was of the two of the
4 IL spies who believed it entirely practicable for
/ the Israeites to go in and possess the Promised
! Land. M, ID so; IA 6-9) 9. BY reason of
I his bravery, his trust in Providence and his
/ confidence in the Israelites, God provided a
| special allotment of choice territory to him and
/ his family in the Promised Canaan. (Nu
| IA "a; Deu l So; JOSH, IA: els; 10: 1916 :;
/ Jud., :9-I5 20.( 10. He is one Of only two
/ who, being 20 years of age or older when the
| lsraeiites left Egypt were permitted to enter
/ Canaan, Joshua having been the other one
! (Nu., ii: SO; 20: 65.) II. He WAS one of the II
appointed to divide the land west of the Jor-
| dan among the nine and one-half tribes (Nu.,
3l:19) - He was 70 years old at the close
| of the exodus. IL. He was So years old when
Canaan was practically subjected to the Israel
| ties. Josh, II 100 IA. He had brothers, the
/ youngest of whom was Othniel. (Jud., L Is !;
3:9.) 10. He was married. We do not know the
name of his wife. His sons were Iru, Elah,
! Mann. Il Ch.. 4:15.) Is. The name Caleb
means dog. Some scholars derive it from q
Hebrew word meaning the whole heart.
4. The Inheritance.
When the promise was made to Caleb that
! he should have a special inheritance, we do not
find the exact location indicated In NJ,
14:24, the terms are very general. the land
whereinto he went" In Deu., l 80, we have
"the land that he hath trodden upon" Com
pare JOSH, IA: 81 We suppose Caleb travelled
quite considerably, from end TO end of the en-
tire land of Canaan. With . special promise,
he would be allowed some margin of privilege
in selecting his portion. He was specially
struck with the beauty and fruitfulness CT the
| Valley of Hebron, and doubtless expressed a
! preference for that section Forty-tiye years
| had passed since the promise was made. The
time had arrived fer the land to be distributed.
| Caleb on the spot reminded Joshua of the
promise of God to him, and asked for his allOt-
! ment. Hebron became his inheritance. We
are not to suppose that the city alone was given
to him, bnt the entire valley in which lay the
city. 1t was a city dear to the IsraeliteS as
associated with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
The exact spot promised to Caleb seems quite
fixed in JOSH IA 70" this mountain whereof
the Lord spake." In Numbers, Is: p the ter
ritory in and about Hebron is specially men,
toned as that visited by the II spies It was
spies brought punches of cranes, to wit, from
near the brook Eshcol. (Nu., 10: 23.) For a
time Hebron was held by one of the Anakim
named Arba, aud the city was called Kirjath-
Arba Josh, IA 10; 10: 49, Joshua called
it by its old name Hebron, the name by which
Abraham knew it, JOSH, 4:15.) 1t in very
early times was also called Mamre. Gen,
23:19) Hebron was Is miles south Of Jerusa-
lem. 1t was mountainous being $500 feet
above the Mediterranean. (See mountain, -
Josh, 14:12) 1t was older than even Damas-
Gus On the death of Sarai Abraham bought
the cave of Machpelah for burial place. 1t
was near Hebron.
5. Caleys 4rgunlent.
/. God promised said territory to him As years
before he Caleb asked for it. (Nu., IA -
| Deu., 1 SO; Josh, ii g. 10, u; Is: 49,
2 Moses distinctively assured him he should
be thus rewarded. Josh, II: 8, 8, 10; Jud.,
1;2O)
8. He was well worthy of said Inheritance
a. He was sincere" as it was in mine heart
Josh, I4:7.) b. He exceIled in bravery his
10 associates. ". S. c. He followed the Lord
wholly. (Ys. 8, g. 14.)
A. He was able to defend it. ". 49,
5. Joshua actually heard the promises made
of God and Moses to Caleb. (V. g.
g. The time had come for the promise made
! I, c,,IE