Week 9 Joshua
Land Distribution time had arrived so a delegation from Judah came to Joshua with their claim. And Caleb came with them – the Caleb who spied out the land. So I know who I’m dealing with.
He’s called Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite. I wonder: if Caleb was a Kenizzite why did he come with the Judah clan? Was he or wasn’t he Judah-ite?
I flip back to the Twelve Spies Story in Numbers 13. One spy was chosen from each tribe, and each spy was a tribal leader. I look down the list and in third spot – listed as Judah’s man – is Caleb son of Jephunneh. So it definitely looks like he was Judah-ite.
But why is he called a Kenizzite?
I get out a word book and check Kenizzite. It’s only used four times, three of them about Caleb. The other time is when the Lord promised Abraham land that included the territory of the Kenite and the Kenizzite – non-Israelite country for sure.
It doesn’t make it easier when a few minutes later I read that Caleb had a brother named Kenaz. My word book says a man named Kenaz – a different Kenaz but same name – belonged to the Esau-Edom family. Is an Esau-family link even possible?
I already think the bible is pretty complicated, and my take-away today is that it’s sometimes maybe more complicated than I already think it is.
Note: see Joshua 14:6; Numbers 13:2-6; Genesis 15:19; Joshua 15:17; Genesis 36:11