Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joshua 14:5
As the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did, and they divided the land.
5. they divided the land ] The division was not finished at once. See below, ch. Jos 18:1. But that is not the point here. The section contains the general introduction to the distribution of the land.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 5. They divided the land.] This work was begun some time before at Gilgal, and was finished some time after at Shiloh. It must have required a very considerable time to make all the geographical arrangements that were necessary for this purpose.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
They, i.e. the persons named Jos 14:5, who represented and acted in the name of the children of Israel, divided it, either now, or presently after; which is here spoken by anticipation.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
5. the children of Israel . . .divided the landthat is, they made the preliminaryarrangements for the work. A considerable time was requisite for thesurvey and measurement.
Jos14:6-15. CALEB BYPRIVILEGE REQUESTSAND OBTAINS HEBRON.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
As the Lord commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did,…. Particularly with respect to the division of the land, and making provision for the Levites; this they did by their heads and representatives, the high priest and chief ruler, and the princes of the several tribes:
and they divided the land; met about it, and began to take measures in order to do it; they prepared for it, though as yet it was not actually done, and previous to it was the following incident.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
‘ As YHWH commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did, and they divided the land.’
The obedience of the people at this point is stressed. They carried out Moses’ commands as given by YHWH. They divided and allocated the land.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Ver. 5. The children of Israeldivided the land That is, they were disposed so to do; they began to set about it. The Scripture calls that done, which is begun or only resolved upon. Gen 37:21. Exo 12:48 chap. Jos 10:15. The text might be disposed thus: “The children of Israel did as the Lord had commanded Moses, by assigning cities and suburbs to the Levites, [ch. Jos 21:1-2, &c.] when they divided the land, under the direction of Joshua, Eleazar, and the heads of the tribes.”
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Jos 14:5 As the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did, and they divided the land.
Ver. 5. As the Lord commanded Moses. ] To see that the Levites had their lands as well as other incomes, Num 35:2 and that no man else should challenge any propriety in them. Lev 25:32-34
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
As = according as. Compare Neh 35:2. Neh 14:2-5.
divided = divided by lot;”. Figure of speech Ellipsis. App-6.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Before the distribution of the land had gone too far, it was appropriate for Caleb to come to Joshua and remind him of the promise God had made ( Num 14:21-24 ; Deu 1:35-36 ). Caleb says he was forty years old when he helped spy out the land. The powerful influence of faithless leaders can be seen in their ability to make the hearts of the people to melt. In contrast, the man who “wholly followed the Lord” was rewarded ( Heb 11:6 ; Heb 6:10 ).
We know Israel wandered thirty-eight more years in the wilderness before she came again to the promised land, so Caleb’s report of forty-five years passing tells us the conquest of Canaan had taken seven years to that time ( Deu 2:14-15 ).
Great men of God, like Caleb, rely upon God to give them the strength to complete their task (compare 1Sa 17:37 ; 1Sa 17:45-47 ; 2Ti 4:16-18 ). Notice, Caleb knew he had lived to be eighty-five because of God’s blessing ( Jos 14:10 ). He even yet knew that he could only accomplish conquest if the Lord was with him ( Jos 14:12 ; Jas 4:13-15 ; Rom 8:31 ; Php 4:13 ; Heb 13:5-6 ). Caleb had told the children of Israel that they could conquer the land and, with the help of God, he and his son-in-law, Othniel, did just that despite the fact that they faced the strongest of the giants who lived in Canaan ( Jos 14:13-15 ; Jos 15:13-19 ).