Suggestion: read this passage with the map I sent you on Monday or any Bible map for the book of Joshua or 12 tribes.
Observations and Interpretations:
(1) The format of chapter 15:
v.1-12 the 4 boundaries of the land of Judah: South, East, North, West. The East and West are simple, the Dead sea/Jordan river and the Mediterranean Sea.
v.13-19 Caleb's portion within the Judah tribe
v.21-62 the cities of Judah arranged by the landscape (southland, western foothills, Philistine cities, hill country, desert). Remember the names of Philistine cities v.45-47 and Caleb's son-in-law Othniel v.17. You will read more about them in the book of Judges.
(BKC) Composed mainly of the territory conquered by Joshua in his southern campaign (chap. 10), the area included some fertile tracts, but large parts were mountainous and barren.
Obviously, water sources were important in this land and therefore, Caleb's daughter asked him for the special present of the springs of water v.18-19.
(2) The success of Caleb v.13-17
At age 85, Caleb drove out 3 Anakites (leaders) and he did not stop.
(BKC) The record describes how that courageous warrior claimed and enlarged this inheritance (after Joshua’s death), aided by a brave nephew Othniel who became his son-in-law (cf. Jud. 1:1, 10–15, 20) and later a judge (Jud. 3:9–11).
Application: We see the result of faith putting into action. Caleb got the inheritance, the brave nephew as his son-in-law who would be the future leader of Israel. May God encourage us to follow the example of Caleb. Have faith in God when no one does. Put our faith into action. Trust God and His promise even when we do not have the strength ourselves.
(3) The failure of Judah v.63 and Ephraimites v.10
15:63 The men of Judah were unable to conquer the Jebusites living in Jerusalem. The Jebusites live with the people of Judah in Jerusalem to this very day.
16:10 The Ephraimites did not conquer the Canaanites living in Gezer. The Canaanites live among the Ephraimites to this very day and do hard labor as their servants.Scriptures did not tell us why in the list of over a hundred cities allotted to Judah, only the city of Jerusalem the men of Judah were not able to conquer. In the case of Ephraimites, Scriptures did not say they could not conquer, but they did not conquer. They were commanded to totally annihilate the Canaanites, not to allow them to live and work as servants.
(NAC) The tribe of Manasseh subjected to forced labor the Canaanites living in the towns they were to capture (17:12–13; Judg 1:28), as did the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali with residents of cities within their territorial inheritances (Judg 1:30, 33; cf. also v. 35).
In these contexts the subjugation of the Canaanites was not a positive accomplishment for the Israelites...According to Deut 20:16–18, they should have completely annihilated the peoples, not spared them and subjected them to the forced labor. Thus, the Ephraimites and the rest failed in their duties, even though the lasting result was their subjugation of native peoples.
In these contexts the subjugation of the Canaanites was not a positive accomplishment for the Israelites...According to Deut 20:16–18, they should have completely annihilated the peoples, not spared them and subjected them to the forced labor. Thus, the Ephraimites and the rest failed in their duties, even though the lasting result was their subjugation of native peoples.
Application: Do we follow the command of God like the Ephraimites? We only obey partially and leave rooms for ourselves. We can devote our money, but not our time. We do not fear people and fear God, but in front of some friends, we cannot.
Audrey
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