Caleb: Live and wait

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Obituary of Caleben The Voice of Hebron

C Aleb, son of Jefone, took his last breath. Today he has finished his
Days a truly great man, a father of Israel. Caleb,
from the tribe of Judah, was born a slave in Goshen, Egypt. His childhood and
youth passed under the most distressing conditions and was forced to
participate in various construction projects in that country. Together with his
people, was able to leave Egypt and free themselves from slavery thanks to a
spectacular rescue maneuver known as the "exodus", which
it ended in a lightning chase by the Egyptian army, finally
decimated in the Red Sea.
Although he never aspired to any kind of recognition, the undeniable
Caleb's leadership qualities led him to be appointed as a representative.
from the tribe of Judah on a risky espionage mission in Canaan
busy. As a consequence, her life took a turn. Upon her return from the
mission, he and Joshua, son of Nun, strove bravely to avoid the
national catastrophe after the other ten delegates forged the
recognition reports. Recently Caleb, at the age of 85,
jumped to the headlines for having led a military action against the giants
anaquitas.
While he was a great national leader, he will be remembered for his humility, his
generosity, her kindness and her faith. For her children Iru, Ela and Naam, her daughter
Acsa and her son-in-law Otoniel, their loss will be deeply felt. The funeral will have
place in Hebron, his country. More information will be provided in due course.
regarding.

Characters
Caleb: This name, although of uncertain meaning, is related to the
Hebrew term for designating a dog. In the ancient Near East the
Dogs were not usually regarded with too much esteem. There is
numerous references to the pejorative use of the term ('rambunctious dog')
"dead dog", etc.) However, the loyalty of the dog is also
documented in various extra-biblical sources. Faithfulness and trust
of Caleb in the power of God is one of the reasons that shine throughout and
width of your life.
Joshua: He succeeded Moses in the task of leading Israel. Alongside Caleb, he was
one of the twelve spies who investigated the land of Canaan. Joshua and Caleb
they were the only ones among all those who were over twenty years old
who came out of Egypt and were able to enter Canaan. He died at 110 years old.
(Joshua 24:29).
Moses: He may be the greatest of the characters that appear in the Old Testament.
Testament. He is the author of most of the first five books of the
Bible.1In ancient times, these first five books of the Bible were known
like the five books of Moses. The name "Pentateuch" (which indicates a
book written in five parts) began to be used from the 2nd century of our era
era. 2 This means that Moses himself, one of the characters
central to the Exodus, is the author of the first references to Caleb.
The other ten spies: These men, whom the Bible identifies by their
names, they were leaders of their respective tribes and were chosen to
represent them in the espionage mission in Canaan. If we consider the
The result of their report, they must have been excellent speakers. After
to present it, they began to sow fear and distrust, leaving
God outside the equation and stating that Israel was incapable of conquering
the land of Canaan (Numbers 13:26-33). It seems that they let themselves be carried away
due to the excitement of the moment and they did not know how to confront the crowd
terrified. Instead of being based on facts, her vision became based on the
irrationality; to the point that after declaring that "milk and honey flow"
(Numbers 13:27) contradicted themselves, stating that 'the land [...]
it brings in its inhabitants" (verse 32). As a consequence of their lack of
faith in God "died of the plague" (Numbers 14:37).
It is likely that Acsa, Caleb's daughter, was born during the forties.
years in which the Israelites wandered in the desert. As a good
young prospect, served as an incentive in the battle for the conquest of
She married her cousin Othniel (Joshua 15:16, 17). After that
of marriage, she made an unconventional request to her father, who
he granted springs in the Negev (verses 18, 19).
Othniel: He was the son of Kenaz and nephew of Caleb. Later he
he became her son-in-law. He was a young warrior who led the conquest of

Since Deuteronomy 34 describes his own death, it is obvious that Moses did not
he could have written this chapter
2Compare John H. Sailhamer, The Pentateuch as Narrative
as narrative], Library of Biblical Interpretation (Grand Rapids, Michigan:
Zondervan [1992]), pp. 1, 2.
He captured Hebron and obtained the hand of Acsa. Years later, God used him to
to liberate the Israelites from Cusan-risataim, king of Mesopotamia. He was the first
judge of Israel (Judges 3:7-11).
The sons of Anak: Aiman, Sesay, and Talmay were the leaders of a group of
the original inhabitants of Canaan who lived in the area of Hebron. To
they seemed very tall and strong. This was the main cause of fear among the
ten spies who later claimed that in their presence they felt like
"grasshoppers" (Numbers 13:33) and that the Israelites had no possibility
some of defeating them. Caleb, as a demonstration of his great faith, requested that territory,
and even being one of the two oldest men in Israel, he defeated the
giants that had terrified an entire generation of Israelites.

Information about the context

Caleb lived in turbulent times, from the exodus of Egypt until the
first days of the settlement in Canaan, going through the pilgrimage through
the desert. According to the chronological reference provided in 1 Kings 6:1,
Caleb was born at the beginning of the 15th century B.C. This was a time of great
international development. At the beginning of the New Empire period,
Egypt began to extend its influence over Canaan in order to create a
buffer zone against a possible new invasion from the north.
During the Second Intermediate Period, Egypt suffered the trauma of seeing itself
dominated by foreign rulers: the Hyksos.3The division of the
Egyptian rulers in dynasties are attributed to Manetho, a priest.
Egyptian who lived in the 3rd century B.C. and wrote the history of Egypt in
Greek. The most important dynasties of the New Kingdom of Egypt were
the XVIII and the XTV. That the exodus took place in the 16th century B.C. places it so
important event in the life of Caleb and the people of Israel
during the reign of the XVIII dynasty.
The influence of Egypt in Canaan is documented in the extra letters.
Amarna tablets, discovered in 1887. These communications
diplomats, originating from Canaan and sent by the rulers of the
small city-states of the Canaanites and Syrians to the pharaohs Amenhotep III and
IV during the 14th century B.C., contain urgent requests for help
against people or groups described as the Habiru, who attacked
the cities. While the Israelites were not the only ones known as
The history of Egypt is complex and is contained in abundant material.
documentary, including numerous texts and archaeological and iconographic data.
A very useful and easy-to-read book, the work of one of the Egyptologists.
most notable contemporaries that connect Egypt with the history of Canaan
Egypt, Canaan, and Israel in Ancient Times
Antiquity (Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press [1992]) by Donald
B. Redford.
habiru (mentioned in texts as ancient as some writings of the
18th century BC, related to people or peoples 'on the fringes of the
law), nothing prevents them from being part of such a group. It is evident that at
They saw them as invaders, they considered them 'outlaws' and aggressors.4
Surprisingly, the letters are written in Akkadian and not in hieroglyphs, which
which highlights the importance it had as a language
international trade and diplomacy. In addition to correspondence
with the Syrian and Canaanite vassals of Egypt, the file also contained
letters that documented the relationships of the Egyptians with others
great international powers of the time, among them Babylon, Assyria,
Mitanni (a group of Hurrian language that lived north of present-day Syria) and the
Hittite Empire.
The way God managed time for His people is impeccable.
If we consider the international political landscape at the end of the 15th century.
C. and the beginning of the 14th century B.C., we will see that the great powers of the
times like Egypt, Assyria or the Hittite Empire were occupied in resolving
its internal problems, which left Canaan unprotected. In this way,
Israel only had to conquer the local population without having to
face them in the face of a greater threat like any of these powers.

Action
Although Caleb is not a main character, his story is intertwined with
a major section of the biblical narrative. The story of Caleb
it probably begins somewhere in chapter 2 of the book of Exodus and
ends in Judges 1. Caleb's life was filled with action. He was
witness and part of the birth of a nation. It started living as
slave in Egypt and experienced firsthand the power of God in the
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ten plagues. If we assume he was the firstborn of his family, the blood
on the door frame of his house, he protected him in the terrible night of
liberation when the angel of the Lord passed through the houses of Egypt and took the
life of all the firstborns who were not covered by the blood of the
lamb.
If you want to read more about the Amarna letters, you can check the useful summary.
by Nadav Na'aman: "Amarna Letters" [The Amarna Letters] in Anchor Bible
Dictionary, 6 volumes, ed. David Noel Freedman (New York: Doubleday [1992])
Volume 1, pp. 174-181. A good translation of the texts can be found.
Acadios in The Amarna Letters [The Amarna Letters] (Baltimore, Maryland-
London: Johns Hopkins University [1992]) by W. L. Moran.
The fact that Caleb was chosen as a representative of Judah in Numbers 13:6
suggests his status as the firstborn (as well as his leadership qualities) in a
society and a culture in which age and lineage rights were
important.
Caleb took part in the largest escape in history, when the Israelites
they left Egypt loaded with the treasures of their oppressors. Ate
manna, camped at the feet of Sinai and heard the voice of God when the earth
It trembled and the mountain exploded. He saw with displeasure how many of his
fellow countrymen, shortly after having heard the voice of God, danced
around the golden calf. Caleb joined the long journey towards the
borders of the Promised Land.
Although the first forty years of his life were characterized by
the silence at a relatively low profile, Caleb was observing, learning, remembering and
he cultivated his relationship with God. Thus he gained a moral strength with which he left
his footprint in history after the exploration of Canaan. He was
ready, prepared and convinced to speak; to step in to address the
popular verdict and encourage others to have faith in God. Despite his
faith, he and all the others who did not believe spent the next forty years
pilgriming through the desert, facing water scarcity, the
wild animals, the turmoil and the constant fainting of the
Israelites. Finally, he returned to the border of the Promised Land.
one of the last two survivors of his generation. Nevertheless, he does not
he withdrew to enjoy a well-deserved break, but instead, he participated in
the conquest of the country alongside the new generation.
Although his life was a role model, he did not cling to his leadership nor did he
felt threatened by the younger ones. Instead, he sought creative ways
to nourish his faith and his leadership. Between Caleb's public life and his life
private there was no artificial distinction whatsoever. His last action of the
what we have news in the Bible is an image of Caleb as a man of
family. In Joshua 15:19, a generous Caleb gives his daughter (whom by
the law did not correspond to any property), not just some land (that they
they would lose for him and his family, since his daughter would become part of the
family of her husband), but also a transfer of rights over the water,
one of the most precious resources in the arid Near East.

In depth
In this section we will take a look at the first words that are
registered of Caleb, which can be found in Numbers 13:30. Although it
It is about a very short verse, to set its words in context.
we will have to take into account what precedes and what follows the speech of
Caleb.
Numbers 13 starts with God's command to go out and explore the land of
Canaan. The Israelites were camped right in front of the border of the
Promised Land, and there they choose the representatives of the different tribes.
to join the espionage mission. Since it is an official mission,
first, each of the representatives is introduced by name in the
context of his tribe, and then his father's name is given. This
it served to identify the personal clan, and had a function similar to that of the
last name in our society.
Numbers 13:16 mentions that Moses gave Oseas the name Joshua. No
it was strange for a leader to change someone’s name in order to show a
change of mission or role in that person. 'Joshua' is especially
relevant, as it is the Hebrew form of the name Jesus, that
means 'the Lord is salvation'. This was a very appropriate name for
a leader who was destined to face great setbacks. The
the fact that Caleb did not obtain a new name emphasizes his role
secondary. One is not called to a visible leadership position.
In Numbers 13:17 the spies receive the orders. It is not a journey of
Pleasure to visit distant landscapes. They are called to carry out a
research project in which they must seek the real facts.
God is favorable to data collection, surveys, and missions.
to discover new things. Our Christian experience should not be
marked by a lack of personal research or superficial searching. It
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He asks us to examine the Bible individually and as a
community of believers.
Numbers 13:26-29 is an objective report of the results obtained in the
mission, although certain biased nuances can be detected in
some point, such as the 'but' that begins verse 28. The
facts in themselves are not relevant without an interpretation, so Caleb
take the word and step forward to do it. He sees a great country that
God has promised His people, while the other ten leaders leave to
God is outside and only giants come. When looking at the events that take place in
our life and the current world, even in science and history,
depending on whether we interpret the facts with faith or without it and whether
we include or exclude God from the equation, we can arrive at
diametrically opposed conclusions.
Words are powerful. The ten spies who gave the false report of
they had no idea of the impact their words would have or of the
the consequences that would result from your report. The change is spectacular and
suddenly. In an instant, the vast crowd changed its mood from the
from hopeful excitement to the deepest disappointment, despair, and anger.
It seemed that the words of the spies had an effect even on them.
the same, so they extended their narrative to include exaggerations
The Bereans were well regarded because they did not accept any
new teaching without first comparing it with the Scriptures (Acts 17:11).
that were not based on facts. If the country was so bad that it swallowed
How many lived in it (verse 32), how could it house giants?
In chapter 14 we can see the effect of the report. The bad mood
spreads throughout the camp and the town wishes to return to Egypt. 7
Moses and Aaron argue with God. Caleb and Joshua do not remain silent.
They are trying to hold back the tide. Yours was an incredibly brave act.
Imagine the reader standing before an angry crowd that seems to have lost.
all trace of rationality and memory. Joshua and Caleb were passionate
with the truth. They could not stand idly by watching how
An entire nation was being led to disaster. In verses 6 to 9 is
it documented his speech. Although it does not indicate who spoke, it seems that
both did it; and with the action of tearing their clothes they express the
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depth of their feelings. They are just two men who are talking in
name of God in the midst of a restless crowd that, like a mob
a fan of a team that has lost the most coveted championship, is in
seeks a victim on whom to unload its resentment. The crowd had
lost his reason and seeks to stone Caleb and Joshua. The direct intervention
God protects them in verse 10.
The last time Caleb is mentioned in the book of Numbers is in the
verse 24 of chapter 14, where God dignifies him with a mention
special. Joshua will become a leader, a very visible character. Without
embargo, God wants to reinforce the truth that he also pays attention to the
secondary characters. God knows that another spirit lives in Caleb,
fact, his Spirit; and that despite doing it discreetly, Caleb
follow God with all your heart. God will reward your faith and trust.
an entire generation, he will be the only one to enter Canaan.

Answers
Numbers 14:18 has turned out to be a somewhat uncomfortable verse for
some Bible scholars. From the individualistic perspective of the century
In particular, we see justice as something personal in which the
the guilty "pays" for what they have done. We have come a long way.
After approximately 38 years, Moses narrates this to the next
generation. Those who listened to it were probably too young to
to remember it or they had not yet been born (Deuteronomy 1:19-36). Note that in
this abbreviated version also mentions Caleb.
The act of tearing one's clothes was generally related to the
weeping and the reception of bad news. Compare Genesis 37:29 (Reuben came)
he tears his clothes when he sees that Joseph is not in the pit), Joshua 7:6 (Joshua ...
tears his garments when he learns of the massacre in Hai) and 2 Samuel 1:11
David and his men tear their clothes when they learn of the death of
Saul and his sons.
since we have organized ourselves into communities. Whether we like it or not, in a
In a very real sense, the lives of all are intertwined and all of ours
elections affect others as they do ourselves. We believe that
the idea of children who suffer the consequences of their parents' sins
parents is unfair and ruthless. The way God sees the issues of the
justice, punishment, and the responsibility of both the group and the individual,
is beautifully captured in the story of Caleb. In Numbers 14:10 God
enter the scene and hold back the Israelites so they do not stone the leaders
while Moses is interceding for a community that does not deserve it. He
quote the words that God told him9 and include the problematic words of
verse 18, where it is stated that "he will not consider him innocent in any way"
culpable, for it punishes the sins of the parents upon the children to the third
and the fourth generation.10
What purpose does the application of this principle have in Caleb's life and the
community of the Israelites? First of all, we can see that God is
patient. This was the tenth time that the Israelites had rebelled against
the direction of God (Numbers 14:22). 11 Disobedience has its consequences
consequences. Sometimes it is possible to delay the consequences of sin,
but inevitably these must be faced. Due to their continued
disobedience and their repeated lack of faith, the Israelites were unable to enter in
Canaan. God told Moses that of all the generation of Israelites that
they had left Egypt, those who had already reached twenty years would die
in the desert (Numbers 14:29-35). Forty years of nomadic life in a
a dry desert would be a tough test. The whole community would suffer like
result of their actions, including the children (14:33) and the livestock.12
Although the punishment would apparently affect two generations, it was extended.
really up to the third and fourth generation, for all those who
they were around twenty years old, they would also have children
In Exodus 34:6, 7 God reveals Himself to Moses and says the words that Moses
re-quoted in Numbers 14:18.
See, for example, the comment in: Gerald A. Klingbeil "Between 'I' and
"We": The anthropology of the Hebrew Bible and Its Importance for a Twenty-First
Ecclesiology» [Between the «I» and the «we»: Anthropology of the Hebrew Bible and its
importance for a 21st century ecclesiology in Bulletin for Biblical Research
19 (2009), pp. 319-339.
Remember that the Israelites had been witnesses of the ten plagues of Egypt.
and they had crossed the Red Sea on foot, dry. Still, they continued choosing the
incredulity. See, for example, Exodus 15:22-26; 16:1-20; 17:2-7; 32:1 (the
the episode of the golden calf occurred right after having heard the voice of God) and
Números 11:1-7.
12In the Old Testament, similar examples can be found of
consequences affecting an entire generation because of an individual,
like the sin of David, from which the death of his first son born from it derived.
Bathsheba and the subsequent family problems (2 Samuel 12:14-20).
they would suffer in the desert before entering Canaan. The harsh reality is that the
Sin is not fair. Drunk drivers kill innocent people. In
to a greater or lesser extent, we all suffer from the wrong decisions of the
others; and in turn, with our wrong decisions and actions
we influence the lives of others and our environment. The Bible establishes
clearly there will be a day of punishment and judgment in which God will punish from
13
actively engages individual and group sin. However, much of
how much we suffer is a consequence of our own sins or those of the
others.14

Reaction
Chantal: In Caleb, I see a lot of myself. I think that in general I am more of
moving behind the scenes, although in some ways I am very different from
Caleb. Caleb was ready to rise up and resist even if it was only him.
necessary. I prefer to avoid conflict at almost any price; My family
and my friends support me wonderfully. But, would I have the moral strength
to rise up by faith and trust in God if all those I love and appreciate
They spoke of darkness and distrust? I want to have more of the Spirit than
I lived in Caleb to know when I should just observe in silence and when
get up and talk.
Gerald: Patience is not one of my strong points. I wish I had it.
the firmness of character that Caleb showed by waiting for more than forty
Years of the fulfillment of God's promise! I wish I could show the
patience that Caleb showed when having to distance himself from the borders of the
Promised Land during another 38 years of nomadic life, knowing very well
that it wasn't his fault! In Caleb's life, I see no accusations. It is not the
a type of person who looks for the guilty and makes an effort for them to find out
that the blame falls on them. He shows great solidarity: something that I
I would like to show more in my life.

God expects unwavering loyalty. He promised "mercy" for

thousands [of generations] who love me and keep my commandments
(Exodus 20:6). The contrast between three or four generations and thousands of
generations is marked and deliberate. It emphasizes the limitless mercy of God
for those who love it, while the limited punishment for those who disobey it
it only reaches up to the third or fourth generation.
Another difficult example is found in Joshua 7. As a result of the sin of
Acán, the entire community suffers, including his immediate family, his animals,
his tribe and the entire confederation of tribes that represent Israel as one
town.