Bible Strands
Joshua 14:6
Then the sons of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh-barnea about you and me.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite addresses Joshua at Gilgal, speaking on behalf of the sons of Judah as the land distribution begins. He initiates the conversation by invoking a past divine communication at Kadesh-barnea.
The words — וַ/יִּגְּשׁ֨וּ (va/i.yi.ge.Shu) means "and they approached," describing the physical movement of the Judahites to Joshua’s location. אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁ֙עַ֙ (’el-yehoShu’a) literally translates to "to Joshua," marking the direct recipient of their delegation.
The thread — The reference to Kadesh-barnea and the LORD’s prior word connects directly to Numbers 13:6, Numbers 14:30, and Numbers 14:24, where Caleb’s spy mission and the exclusion of the rebellious generation are recorded. These passages establish the historical backdrop for Caleb’s current claim.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to recognize that Caleb grounds his present request in a recorded divine promise rather than personal entitlement. It demands attention to the continuity between past covenantal words and their delayed fulfillment.
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
King James Version
Then the children of Judah came unto Joshua in Gilgal: and Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite said unto him, Thou knowest the thing that the Lord said unto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadesh–barnea.
Cross-references
- Numbers 14:30 Surely none of you will enter the land in which I swore to settle you, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.
- Numbers 13:6 from the tribe of Judah, Caleb son of Jephunneh;
- Numbers 14:24 But because My servant Caleb has a different spirit and has followed Me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he has entered, and his descendants will inherit it.
- Numbers 14:6 Joshua son of Nun and Caleb son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes
- Joshua 14:14 Therefore Hebron belongs to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite as an inheritance to this day, because he wholly followed the LORD, the God of Israel.
- Numbers 13:26 and they went back to Moses, Aaron, and the whole congregation of Israel in the Wilderness of Paran at Kadesh. They brought back a report for the whole congregation and showed them the fruit of the land.
- Numbers 32:12 not one except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun—because they did follow the LORD wholeheartedly.’
- Joshua 15:17 So Othniel son of Caleb’s brother Kenaz captured the city, and Caleb gave his daughter Acsah to him in marriage.
- Deuteronomy 1:36 except Caleb son of Jephunneh. He will see it, and I will give him and his descendants the land on which he has set foot, because he followed the LORD wholeheartedly.”
- Psalms 90:1 A prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, You have been our dwelling place through all generations.