Joshua 14:12

KJV

Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims [were] there, and [that] the cities [were] great [and] fenced: if so be the LORD [will be] with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said.

KJV (with Strong's)

Now therefore give {H5414} me this mountain {H2022}, whereof the LORD {H3068} spake {H1696} in that day {H3117}; for thou heardest {H8085} in that day {H3117} how the Anakims {H6062} were there, and that the cities {H5892} were great {H1419} and fenced {H1219}: if so be {H194} the LORD {H3068} will be with {H854} me, then I shall be able to drive them out {H3423}, as the LORD {H3068} said {H1696}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Therefore, give me this hill, the one ADONAI spoke about on that day; for on that day you heard how the 'Anakim were there with great, fortified cities; perhaps ADONAI will be with me, and I will drive them away, as ADONAI said."

Berean Standard Bible

Now therefore give me this hill country that the LORD promised me on that day, for you yourself heard then that the Anakim were there, with great and fortified cities. Perhaps with the LORD’s help I will drive them out, as the LORD has spoken.”

American Standard Version

Now therefore give me this hill-country, whereof Jehovah spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakim were there, and cities great and fortified: it may be that Jehovah will be with me, and I shall drive them out, as Jehovah spake.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Joshua 14:12 powerfully encapsulates the unwavering faith and audacious courage of Caleb, an eighty-five-year-old patriarch, as he boldly claims his promised inheritance. Despite the formidable presence of the Anakim, a race of giants, and their heavily fortified cities in the rugged mountainous region of Hebron, Caleb expresses absolute confidence in the Lord's continued presence and power to enable him to conquer this challenging territory, fulfilling a divine promise made forty-five years prior. This verse stands as a testament to enduring trust in God's word, regardless of overwhelming obstacles or advanced age.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This pivotal verse is situated within the broader narrative of the division of the land of Canaan among the Israelite tribes, following the initial conquests led by Joshua. Specifically, [Joshua 14](/joshua/14 "Joshua 14 - Caleb's Inheritance") details the special inheritance granted to Caleb, fulfilling a long-standing divine promise. Caleb’s request for the most challenging territory, rather than an easier portion, serves as a profound example of faith and courage for the entire nation. It immediately precedes the general distribution of land to the other tribes, setting a high standard of courageous obedience and trust in God for the ongoing task of fully possessing the promised land, emphasizing that the initial victories were merely the beginning of the complete conquest.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Caleb's request in [Joshua 14:12](/joshua/14-12 "Joshua 14:12 - Caleb's Claim to Hebron") occurs approximately forty-five years after the Israelites' exodus from Egypt and the initial reconnaissance of Canaan. During that first scouting mission, Caleb, alongside Joshua, stood firm in faith against the ten fearful spies who magnified the strength of the land's inhabitants, particularly the Anakim, a formidable race of giants ([Numbers 13:28](/numbers/13-28 "Numbers 13:28 - The Report of the Spies")). As a direct consequence of his unwavering trust, God promised Caleb that he would inherit the land upon which he had trodden ([Numbers 14:24](/numbers/14-24 "Numbers 14:24 - God's Promise to Caleb") and [Deuteronomy 1:36](/deuteronomy/1-36 "Deuteronomy 1:36 - Moses Recounts God's Promise")). The city of Hebron, the specific "mountain" Caleb requests, was not only a strategic stronghold but also held immense historical and cultural importance as the burial place of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob ([Genesis 23:19](/genesis/23-19 "Genesis 23:19 - Burial of Sarah in Hebron")), making its conquest deeply symbolic for Israel's heritage.
* **Key Themes:** Caleb's bold declaration in this verse powerfully encapsulates several foundational themes that resonate throughout the book of Joshua and the entire biblical narrative. First, it underscores the theme of **unwavering faith** in God's promises, demonstrating a trust that endures across decades and defies overwhelming odds. Caleb's confidence is not in his own strength or advanced age, but solely in the Lord's ability to fulfill His word, even against the formidable Anakim mentioned in [Numbers 13:33](/numbers/13-33 "Numbers 13:33 - The Giants"). Second, it exemplifies **courage and perseverance**, as an octogenarian chooses the most challenging task rather than resting on past accomplishments, illustrating that God's call and empowerment are not limited by age or perceived physical limitations. Third, the phrase "if so be the LORD will be with me" is critical, emphasizing **divine empowerment** and absolute dependence. Caleb recognizes that success is entirely contingent on God's active presence and power, rather than human might. Finally, the verse illustrates the principle of **inheriting God's promises** through faithfulness, showing that consistent obedience and trust lead to the tangible fulfillment of divine covenant blessings, even if the fulfillment is delayed for many years, as was the case for the Israelites entering Canaan ([Joshua 21:43-45](/joshua/21-43-45 "Joshua 21:43-45 - God's Faithfulness in Giving the Land")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Mountain (Hebrew, הַר, _har'_):** In this context, "mountain" refers specifically to the rugged hill country surrounding Hebron, a region known for its strategic importance and formidable terrain. Mountains often symbolized significant obstacles and strongholds in ancient warfare. Caleb's request for "this mountain" is not for an easy inheritance but for the most challenging, indicating his extraordinary faith and desire to confront the very heart of the Anakim's power, turning a symbol of fear into a testament of conquest.
* **Anakims (Hebrew, עֲנָקִי, _ʻĂnâqî'_):** Patronymically from Anak, these were a race of formidable giants, renowned for their imposing stature and strength. Their presence was the primary reason the ten unfaithful spies instilled fear in the Israelite camp, leading to forty years of wilderness wandering ([Numbers 13:33](/numbers/13-33 "Numbers 13:33 - The Giants in the Land")). Caleb's specific mention of them highlights the magnitude of the challenge he is willing to face, directly confronting the source of Israel's past fear and failure, and demonstrating his unwavering trust in God's superior power.
* **Drive them out (Hebrew, יָרַשׁ, _yârash'_):** This verb, from a primitive root meaning "to occupy (by driving out previous tenants, and possessing in their place)," implies a complete and forceful removal of the current inhabitants, signifying total conquest and permanent occupation. It also carries connotations of inheriting or taking possession. Caleb's use of this strong verb underscores his conviction that, with God's help, he will achieve a decisive victory, not merely a temporary skirmish, but a full and lasting disinheritance of the Anakim.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day;"**: Caleb, having reminded Joshua of God's specific promise to him made forty-five years prior, now makes his direct and bold claim. The "mountain" refers to the region of Hebron, which was known to be inhabited by the formidable Anakim. Caleb is not asking for just any land, but precisely the challenging territory that God had promised him personally due to his unwavering faithfulness. This demonstrates his meticulous remembrance of God's word and his desire for its precise and complete fulfillment.
* **"for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims [were] there, and [that] the cities [were] great [and] fenced:"**: Caleb explicitly acknowledges the formidable nature of the challenge he is undertaking. He reminds Joshua that both of them were fully aware of the Anakim's imposing presence and the strength of their "great and fenced" (fortified) cities from their initial scouting mission. This is not a request born of ignorance or naivete, but a deliberate choice to confront the greatest obstacles, fully aware of their difficulty, yet utterly undeterred by them. It highlights the stark contrast between Caleb's faith and the fear that gripped the rest of Israel decades earlier.
* **"if so be the LORD [will be] with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said."**: This concluding clause is the linchpin of Caleb's profound faith and the theological heart of the verse. The phrase "if so be the LORD will be with me" is not an expression of doubt or uncertainty, but rather a statement of absolute dependence and confident expectation in God's active presence and empowering might. It acknowledges that his ability to "drive them out" is not based on his own strength, youth, or military prowess, but entirely on the Lord's active participation and supernatural empowerment. The final phrase, "as the LORD said," reaffirms his unwavering belief in the divine promise and its ultimate, guaranteed fulfillment.

#### Literary Devices
Joshua 14:12 masterfully employs several **literary devices** to convey Caleb's profound faith and courage, making his declaration resonate with power. **Contrast** is central, as Caleb's bold request for the most challenging territory stands in stark opposition to the fear and unbelief of the other ten spies who, forty-five years earlier, recoiled from the very giants Caleb now seeks to dispossess. This highlights Caleb's unique spiritual fortitude and singular focus on God's promises. The **repetition** of the phrase "in that day" emphasizes the remarkable longevity of God's promise and Caleb's enduring memory and trust in it, spanning nearly half a century and underscoring divine faithfulness across generations. The "mountain" itself functions as potent **symbolism**, representing not just a physical location but also the formidable challenges, seemingly insurmountable obstacles, and deeply entrenched spiritual strongholds that faith is called to confront and overcome. Furthermore, there's a subtle yet powerful **irony** in an eighty-five-year-old man volunteering for the toughest fight, subverting conventional expectations of age and capability, and underscoring that divine empowerment transcends all human limitations.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Caleb's unwavering faith in Joshua 14:12 serves as a powerful testament to the enduring nature of God's promises and the transformative power of a life lived in complete dependence on Him. His willingness to confront the Anakim, despite their formidable reputation and his advanced age, illustrates that true spiritual strength is not found in human might but in divine presence and faithfulness. This passage underscores that God honors persistent faith, even when circumstances seem impossible, and that His faithfulness empowers believers to overcome obstacles that would otherwise be insurmountable. Caleb's example calls believers to embrace God's promises with courageous obedience, trusting that His presence guarantees victory over spiritual "giants" and enables the full inheritance of His blessings, reminding us that God's power is made perfect in our weakness.

* [Numbers 14:24](/numbers/14-24 "God's Promise to Caleb's Faithfulness")
* [Hebrews 11:6](/hebrews/11-6 "Faith is Essential to Please God")
* [Philippians 4:13](/philippians/4-13 "Strength Through Christ")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Caleb's story in Joshua 14:12 offers profound encouragement for believers navigating the challenges of life today. It reminds us that spiritual vitality and the capacity for God's work are not diminished by age, past failures, or the sheer magnitude of the obstacles before us. Just as Caleb, at 85, still possessed the same spirit and faith he had at 40, we are called to maintain a vibrant, active trust in God's promises throughout our lives, from youth to old age. This means identifying the "mountains" in our own lives—the seemingly insurmountable problems, the deeply ingrained sins, the intimidating challenges, the long-standing family issues, or the daunting professional tasks—and approaching them not with fear or resignation, but with the conviction that "if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out." Our confidence is not in our own strength, wisdom, or resources, but in the unfailing presence and omnipotent power of God, who enables us to claim the spiritual inheritance and victory He has promised. Caleb's example challenges us to live out our faith boldly, to confront our fears with God's promises, and to never retire from the spiritual battle until God's purpose is fully accomplished in and through us.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "mountain" or "giant" in your life currently feels insurmountable, and how might Caleb's faith inspire you to approach it differently?**
* **How does Caleb's dependence on "the LORD will be with me" challenge any tendency you might have to rely on your own strength or resources instead of God's?**
* **In what specific areas of your life have you seen God's promises fulfilled, and how can remembering those past fulfillments strengthen your faith for future challenges?**
* **How does Caleb's perseverance and sustained faith over 45 years encourage you to remain faithful in long-term spiritual battles or pursuits, even when the wait is long?**

### FAQ

**Why did Caleb specifically ask for the mountain of Hebron, knowing it was inhabited by giants?**

Answer: Caleb's request for Hebron was a deliberate act of profound faith and a direct claim on a specific promise God had made to him. Forty-five years earlier, when the other spies instilled fear by focusing on the Anakim giants in Hebron, Caleb and Joshua alone declared that Israel could overcome them because God was with them ([Numbers 13:28-33](/numbers/13-28-33 "Numbers 13:28-33 - The Spies' Report") and [Numbers 14:6-9](/numbers/14-6-9 "Numbers 14:6-9 - Joshua and Caleb's Faith")). As a reward for his unwavering faith, God promised Caleb that he would inherit the very land upon which he had trodden ([Numbers 14:24](/numbers/14-24 "Numbers 14:24 - God's Promise to Caleb")). By requesting Hebron, Caleb was not only claiming his promised inheritance but also demonstrating his continued, undiminished trust in God's power to conquer the most formidable obstacles, directly confronting the source of Israel's past fear and unbelief, and proving that God's promises are always true.

**What is the significance of Caleb being 85 years old when he makes this request?**

Answer: Caleb's age of 85 is highly significant, emphasizing that his strength and courage were supernaturally sustained by God, not diminished by the passage of time. He states, "As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in" ([Joshua 14:11](/joshua/14-11 "Joshua 14:11 - Caleb's Enduring Strength")). This highlights that spiritual vitality and God's empowering presence are not limited by physical age or conventional human capabilities. It serves as a powerful example that faithfulness over a long period, even decades, is honored by God, and that His purposes for us can extend throughout our entire lives, regardless of our perceived limitations, demonstrating that God equips those He calls, regardless of their age.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Caleb's audacious faith in conquering the Anakim-infested mountain of Hebron finds its ultimate and profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Caleb's confidence that "if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out" foreshadows the ultimate victory achieved not by human might, but by the divine presence of God incarnate. While Caleb conquered physical giants and earthly strongholds, Christ faced and definitively triumphed over the spiritual "giants" of sin, death, and Satan, which held humanity captive ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Powers")). The "mountain" Caleb sought to possess, a place of historical significance and formidable challenge, points to the spiritual inheritance and heavenly places that believers now possess in Christ ([Ephesians 1:3](/ephesians/1-3 "Ephesians 1:3 - Spiritual Blessings in Christ") and [Ephesians 2:6](/ephesians/2-6 "Ephesians 2:6 - Seated with Christ in Heavenly Places")). Jesus, the true and greater Joshua, leads His people not into a physical land, but into eternal life and victory over all spiritual opposition. Our ability to overcome the "giants" of this world, whether they be fear, temptation, adversity, or the spiritual forces of darkness, is not based on our own strength or age, but solely on the indwelling presence of Christ and His completed work on the cross, enabling us to declare with confidence, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" ([Philippians 4:13](/philippians/4-13 "Philippians 4:13 - Strength in Christ")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Hebrews 11:33

Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Numbers 13:33

And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, [which come] of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

Numbers 13:28

Nevertheless the people [be] strong that dwell in the land, and the cities [are] walled, [and] very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.

Romans 8:31

¶ What shall we then say to these things? If God [be] for us, who [can be] against us?

Joshua 15:14

And Caleb drove thence the three sons of Anak, Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai, the children of Anak.

Psalms 44:3

For they got not the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them: but thy right hand, and thine arm, and the light of thy countenance, because thou hadst a favour unto them.