Who is Caleb in the Bible?

Son of Jephunneh; he was one of those sent to spy out the land, and, counting on the power of God, he made an encouraging report. When 85 years of age he claimed the territory on which his feet had trod, and which God had promised him. Though the Anakim were in possession he was victorious and inherited Kirjath-arba, or Hebron. Num. 13:6, 30; Num. 14:6-38; Joshua 14:6-14; Joshua 15:14-18. Joshua 15:13 does not mean that Caleb did not belong to the tribe of Judah, as some have supposed; but that though he was not a chief of the tribe, a special portion was given to him. He is a type of the Christian who by faith practically occupies and enjoys the place given to him by God, in spite of all there is to oppose him.

Hezron and his children were given in 1 Chron. 2 because David was of that line. In this chapter (1 Chron. 4) we seem to have the descendants of Zerah. "These are the families of the Zerathites." But whether children of Zerah or Pharez, they are of Judah. And besides Jabez we have Caleb, a well-known name, the son of Jephunneh, the son of Kenaz, if we may so conclude from Num. 32:12. "Caleb, the son of Jephunneh the Kenazite." He was the companion of Joshua in faithfulness, and they were the only two who left Egypt and reached the promised land. All others who entered Canaan were born in the wilderness. Then comes Shelah (ver. 21). So the three branches from Judah, Pharez, Zerah, and Shelah, have a place here. But though Shelah was the eldest (Er and Onan being slain in judgment), there is no name of note among them such as Jabez and Caleb; they are workers in fine linen, as others were craftsmen (ver. 14). There were princes among them "who had dominion in Moab," perhaps those who were appointed to gather gifts (tribute) from Moab (18:2). But "these are ancient [past] things." Let us remember that this genealogy was written after the return from Babylon. What honour they had was lost through their sin, and "These were the potters and those that dwelt among plants and hedges, there they dwelt with the king for his work" (ver. 23). These descendants of princes seem to be gardeners to the king of Babylon.

Leading men are selected to act as spies. Reuben here stands first, Simeon follows, Levi is left out, for the Levites were not to have an inheritance in the land, Judah (praise) is the third. Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, who represents the tribe of Judah is here mentioned for the first time. Caleb means "brave," "whole hearted." Joshua's name is given also as "Oshea." Oshea means "saviour" and Joshua is "Jehovah is Saviour." The name of Joshua is found some 250 times in the Bible. He is the type of the Lord Jesus Christ. The name "Jesus" is the Greek equivalent. Caleb and Joshua were the only two in the whole company who trusted In Jehovah. And Jehovah rewarded them for their faith. Another interesting name is "Sethur" (verse 13). His name means "mysterious." The four letters of the name of Sethur give the number 666. He may have been the leader of the opposition, as Antichrist has this number (Rev. 13).

They found the land exactly as it had been described. "We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it." They brought a great cluster of grapes, pomegranates and figs. These tell us of spiritual food and service, which is for those who possess the land, our heavenly portion in Christ. They could not deny that Jehovah's promise was true. They carried the evidences of it upon their shoulders while they carried unbelief in their hearts. They looked at the children of Anak, the giants, which dwelled in the land and not to Jehovah, who had delivered them from the Egyptians. If they had reckoned with the Lord and trusted Him, not they, but the giants would have appeared to them as grasshoppers. Caleb said in faith, "Let us go up at once and possess it." Their unbelieving hearts refused and declared, "We are not able to go up." They brought an evil report of the land. The Hebrew for "bringing up an evil report" is in Prov. 10:18 translated "uttering a slander." Unbelief slanders God; it is an insult to the Lord.

Caleb was one of the less prominent men in the Old Testament, yet he presents one of the most striking examples of loyalty to God and the Scriptures also show that his reward was substantial. From the 14th Chapter of Joshua we learn that Caleb was the son of Jephunneh, a Kenezite who had probably migrated from the mountains of Southern Canaan and had become attached to the tribe of Judah, and consequently was a stranger to the covenants of promise. He was one of the first-fruits of the Gentile harvest of which there were many samples in the Old Testament. However his birth barrier did not hinder him from being an Israelite in spirit. The apostle Paul writing to the Ephesian Christians addressed them as formerly aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel, but now in Christ Jesus they had been made nigh by the blood of Christ, therefore they were no more strangers but fellow-citizens with the saints. (Eph. 2).

Caleb's fragmentary genealogy, which we have cited above, is very instructive in this regard. We know from a number of Scripture passages (Num. 13:6; Num. 14:30, 38; Num. 32:12; Num. 34:19; Deut. 1:36: Joshua 14:13) what favour Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, won from God by his perseverance, moral courage, faithfulness, and zeal to conquer a portion in the land of Canaan. The Lord's approval was upon him, whereas Caleb, the son of Hezron and of Judah, despite his numerous descendants, is not mentioned as the object of God's special favor. But if the fragmentary genealogies of Caleb the son of Judah are proof of the existing disorder, God puts these together fragments for a special purpose, and we find a deeper thought in them. Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, is the one whom God has particularly in view, as the Word teaches us; he is the one whom He introduces in so extraordinary a way into the genealogy of the son of Hezron (1 Chron. 2:49). It is in view of him that this genealogy is inscribed next to that of David, as forming part of the tribe of Judah, from whence the royal race comes. But what connection does Caleb the son of Jephunneh, whose daughter was Achsah, have with Caleb the son of Hezron? Here we find a most interesting fact which has perhaps not been given sufficient attention. Caleb the son of Jephunneh was not originally of the people of Judah. In Numbers 32:12 and Joshua 14:6, 14 he is called Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite. Likewise, Caleb's younger brother Othniel, to whom Caleb gave his daughter Achsah as wife, is called “the son of Kenaz” (Joshua 15:17; Judges 1:13; Judges 3:9, 11). Now in Genesis 36:11 we learn that Kenaz is an Edomite name. Hence the conclusion that at some point of time the family of Kenaz, and therefore the family of Caleb the son of Jephunneh, was incorporated into the tribes of Israel just as so many other foreigners, such as Jethro, Rahab, and Ruth, who in virtue of their faith became members of the people of God. This explains a characteristic phrase in Joshua 15:13: “And to Caleb the son of Jephunneh he gave a portion among the children of Judah according to the commandment of Jehovah to Joshua … that is, Hebron.” And in Joshua 14:14: “Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day, because he wholly followed Jehovah the God of Israel.”

Thus Caleb, who by his origin really had no right of citizenship in Israel, received this right amidst Judah by virtue of his faith and was incorporated into the family of Caleb the son of Hezron, as it appears in 1 Chronicles 2:49 and in the passages already cited in Joshua. The fragments preserved of the genealogy of Caleb the son of Hezron confirm the place that God assigned to Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and this substitution is one of the important points the Spirit of God calls our attention to here.

HEBRON GIVEN TO CALEB (vv. 8-15)

True energy of faith is seen in Caleb, who leads a group from Judah to claim the inheritance he had been promised by Moses. He reminded Joshua of Moses' promise to both him and Joshua because of their standing firmly for the Lord when the other ten spies had brought back a report to put Israel in fear of entering the land (Num. 14:6-9).

At that time Caleb says he was forty years of age (v. 7), and when sent to spy out the land he brought back a report that fully honored the Lord. When others discouraged the people, he wholly followed the Lord (vv. 7-8). Because of his faithfulness, Moses had sworn that the land Caleb's feet trod upon would be his inheritance. Therefore, his faith, depending on the Word of God, claimed what rightly belonged to him (v. 9). This is deeply instructive for believers today. What God has declared to be ours in scripture, such as we see in the book of Ephesians, we should surely claim with true boldness of faith.

While all the men of Israel who had been over twenty when Caleb was forty, had died before the entry into Canaan (except Joshua), Caleb had continued now till he was 85 (v. 10), and told Joshua that he was as strong at 85 as he had been at 40 to go to war (v. 11). Thus, he and Joshua would be fully 20years older than any of the other men of Israel, yet still full of courage. Caleb's name means "a dog," and he was evidently a Gentile proselyte in Israel (Gentiles being regarded as dogs by Jews), but dogs are noted for their unwavering devotion to one master, and Caleb's devotion to the God of Israel was a salutary example for all Israel.

I desire to dwell a little on this chapter, on account of its practical importance. Caleb is a type of the perseverance of faith, His name is mentioned for the first time in Numbers 13:6, when, from the desert of Paran, Moses sends a man of each tribe to search the land. Amongst these twelve we find Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, and Oshea, the son of Nun, whom Moses called Jehoshua. (vv. 8, 16)

Judah 's portion comes first, and as they draw near to Joshua to receive their inheritance by lot (See Proverbs 16:33 and Acts 1:26) at Gilgal (note the recurrence of this place and its significance), Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, steps to the front. It was not forwardness or love of the preeminence which led him to do this, but the burning zeal in that old, yet youthful soul. He comes to claim the inheritance, which forty-five years ago Moses had promised unto him. Caleb was eighty-five years old. "As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me; as my strength was then even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out and to come in." One can almost see him standing before Eleazar, Joshua and the heads of the tribes. What a beautiful testimony he gives to the faithfulness of the Lord! He could say, "I wholly followed the LORD my God." He stands for the man who trusts his God, who reckons not with earthly circumstances and conditions, but with the Lord and His promised power. They that honor Me, I will honor. Forty years old was Caleb when he was put among the spies and when, with Joshua, he honored God and His Word. The reward of faith became evident in his life. Mental vigor and physical strength remained unimpaired. And now he claims his inheritance. Patiently he had waited for forty-five years. The hour has come. He claims the mountain with its Anakim, the giants, the fenced cities, the great cities. That beautiful mountain with its strenuous task is the claimed inheritance. Old age is often characterized by "the pride of life." The lust of the flesh is peculiar to youth; the lust of the eyes, the desire of increase in earthly things to enjoy them, comes with middle life, and in old age temptation is "the pride of life." But not so with the man of faith. Listen to his humble language. He does not pride himself on his faith and trust in God; he knows nothing of self-confidence. "If so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said."

In our day of departure from God and unbelief, may we be like Caleb, "wholly following the LORD." We, too, wait in faith and in patience for the promised inheritance, which some day will be ours, when He comes to reward His Saints. Then as Israel 's land had rest from war (verse 15) we shall enter into our rest from strife and conflict.

In Numbers 13 and 14, we have the great refusal of the people to enter into their inheritance. The spies are sent up and bring back an evil report, while admitting the wondrous fertility and desirability of the land. Caleb and Joshua alone stand out for God. Caleb, "wholehearted," a type of complete devotion, and Joshua as the subsequent leader of the people, a type of Christ in them, alone urge the people to go into the land; and these alone, of all that company, enter forty years later. The people in their hearts turn back into Egypt, and thus show the unfitness of that generation to take up their God-given privileges and responsibilities.

Passing over the details of the judgment pronounced upon Israel for their unbelief, our attention may be arrested by the approbation expressed as to Caleb.* "My servant Caleb," said Jehovah, "because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went, and his seed shall possess it." (Chapter 14:24.) This reveals how grateful to the Lord's heart Caleb's faithful testimony had been, pattern as he was of the remnant of another day who should keep the word of Christ, and not deny His name. He also exemplified the spirit of devoted discipleship in an evil day; he followed fully, and this became his distinguishing characteristic - a characteristic which Caleb himself delighted to accept and recall. Surely he was the Paul of the Old Testament in his whole-hearted fidelity and devotedness. Would that the consideration of his example might be used to stir up many of us to tread in his steps!