Joshua 14:12

Now therefore give me this hill country that the LORD promised me on that day, for you yourself heard then that the Anakim were there, with great and fortified cities. Perhaps with the LORD’s help I will drive them out, as the LORD has spoken.”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Caleb addresses Joshua and the assembled Israelite leaders immediately after recounting his spy mission and his maintained physical strength. He makes this request at the moment of tribal land allotment, seeking the specific territory God had previously pledged to him.

The words — The imperative תְּנָה־ (te.na-h) literally commands "give!" and the phrase הָהָר הַזֶּה (ha.har ha.zeh) specifies "this hill country." These terms anchor Caleb's direct appeal for the promised inheritance despite the known obstacles.

The thread — The theme of divine enablement for impossible tasks echoes in Hebrews 11:33 and Philippians 4:13, while the Anakim threat recalls the fearful report in Numbers 13:33. Caleb's request bridges the initial conquest mandate with the ongoing spiritual reliance on God's spoken word.

Why it lands — The text states Caleb's demand for the fortified hill country and his conditional trust in Yahweh's help before any interpreter infers his faith or courage. It asks the reader to confront the gap between human strength and divine promise, requiring a direct appeal to God's spoken word rather than reliance on circumstance.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְעַתָּ֗הve./'a.Tahand/ therefore תְּנָה־te.na/h-give/ !לִּי֙l/ito <the>/ meאֶת־'et-<obj.>הָהָ֣רha./Harthe/ hill country הַזֶּ֔הha./Zeh<the>/ this אֲשֶׁר־'a.Sher-which דִּבֶּ֥רdi.Berhe spoke יְהוָ֖הYah.wehYahweh בַּיּ֣וֹםba/i.Yomon the/ day הַה֑וּאha./Hu'<the>/ that כִּ֣יkifor אַתָּֽה־'a.tah-you שָׁמַעְתָּ֩sha.ma'.Tayou heard בַיּ֨וֹםva/i.Yomon the/ day הַה֜וּאha./Hu'<the>/ that כִּֽי־ki-that עֲנָקִ֣ים'a.na.KimAnakites שָׁ֗םSham[were] there וְעָרִים֙ve./'a.Rimand/ cities גְּדֹל֣וֹתge.do.Lotlarge בְּצֻר֔וֹתbe.tzu.Rotfortified אוּלַ֨י'u.Laiperhaps יְהוָ֤הYah.wehYahweh אוֹתִי֙'o.T/iwith <the>/ me וְה֣וֹרַשְׁתִּ֔יםve./Ho.rash.Ti/mand/ I will dispossess/ them כַּאֲשֶׁ֖רka./'a.Sherjust/ as דִּבֶּ֥רdi.Berhe spoke יְהוָֽה׃Yah.wehYahweh

King James Version

Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the Lord said.

Cross-references

Hebrews 11:33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
Numbers 13:33 We even saw the Nephilim there—the descendants of Anak that come from the Nephilim! We seemed like grasshoppers in our own sight, and we must have seemed the same to them!”
Numbers 13:28 Nevertheless, the people living in the land are strong, and the cities are large and fortified. We even saw the descendants of Anak there.
Joshua 15:14 And Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak—the descendants of Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.
Romans 8:31 What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Numbers 14:8 If the LORD delights in us, He will bring us into this land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and He will give it to us.
Psalms 27:1 Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—whom shall I dread?
Psalms 44:3 For it was not by their sword that they took the land; their arm did not bring them victory. It was by Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your face, because You favored them.
Psalms 60:12 With God we will perform with valor, and He will trample our enemies.