Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 2.djvu/73

Rh brethren and companions in that service, except Joshua, did otherwise. They made the heart of the people melt, v. 8. and how pernicious the consequences of it were, was very well known. It adds much to the praise of following God, if we adhere to him when others desert and decline from him. Caleb needed not to mention particularly Joshua's conduct in this matter, it was sufficiently known, and he would not seem to flatter him; it was enough to say, v. 6, Thou knowest what the Lord spake concerning me and thee.

(2.) The experience he had had of God's goodness to him ever since to this day. Though he had wandered with the rest in the wilderness, and had been kept thirty-eight years out of Canaan, as they were, for that sin, which he was so far from having a hand in, that he had done his utmost to prevent; yet, instead of complaining of that, he mentions, to the glory of God, his mercy to him in two things, [1.] That he was kept alive in the wilderness, not only notwithstanding the common perils and fatigues of that tedious march, but though all the generation of Israelites, except himself and Joshua, were one way or other cut off by death: with what a grateful sense of God's goodness to him does he speak it! v. 10, Now, behold, (behold and wonder,) the Lord hath kept me alive these forty and five years—thirty-eight years in the wilderness, through the plagues of the desert, and seven years in Canaan through the perils of war! Note, First, While we live, it is God that keeps us alive; by his power he protects us from death, and by his bounty supplies us continually with the supports and comforts of life. He holdeth our soul in life. Secondly, The longer we live, the more sensible we should be of God's goodness to us in keeping us alive, his care in prolonging our frail lives, his patience in prolonging our forfeited lives. Has he kept me alive these forty-five years? Is it about that time of life with us? Or is it more? Or is it less? We have reason to say, It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed. How much are we indebted to the favour of God, and what shall we render? Let the life thus kept by the providence of God, be devoted to his praise. Thirdly, The death of many others round about us, should make us the more thankful to God for sparing us and keeping us alive. Thousands falling on our right hand and our left, and yet ourselves spared—these distinguishing favours impose on us strong obligations to singular obedience. [2.] That he was fit for business, now that he was in Canaan. Though eighty-five years old, yet as hearty and lively as when he was forty, v. 11, As my strength was then, so it is now. This was the fruit of the promise, and out-did what was said; for God not only gives what he promises, but he gives more; life by promise, shall be life, and health, and strength, and all that which will make the promised life a blessing and a comfort. Moses had said in his prayer, Ps. 90. 10. that at eighty years old even their strength is labour and sorrow, and so it is most commonly, but Caleb was an exception to the rule; his strength at eighty-five was ease and joy, this he got by following the Lord fully. Caleb takes notice of this here to the glory of God, and as an excuse for his asking a portion which he must fetch out of the giants' hands: let not Joshua tell him he knew not what he asked; could he get the possession of that which he begged for a title to? "Yes," says he, "why not? I am as fit for war now as ever I was."

(3.) The promise Moses had made him in God's name, that he should have this mountain, v. 9. This promise is his chief plea, and that on which he relies. As we find it, Numb. 14. 24. it is general, him will I bring into the land whereunto he went, and his seed shall possess it: but it seems it was more particular, and Joshua knew it; both sides understood this mountain for which Caleb was now a suitor, to be intended. This was the place from which, more than any other, the spies took their report, for here they met with the sons of Anak, Numb. 13. 22. the sight of whom made such an impression upon them, v. 33. We may suppose that Caleb, observing what stress they laid upon the difficulty of conquering Hebron, a city garrisoned by the giants, and how from thence they inferred that the conquest of the whole land was utterly impracticable, in opposition to their suggestions, and to convince the people that he spake as he thought, bravely desired to have that city which they called invincible, assigned to himself for his own portion; "I will undertake to deal with that, and if I cannot get it for my inheritance, I will be without." "Well," said Moses, "it shall be thine own then, win it and wear it." Such a noble heroic spirit Caleb had, and so desirous was he to inspire his brethren with it, that he chose this place, only because it was the most difficult to be conquered. And to show that his soul did not decay any more than his body, now forty five years after he adheres to his choice, and is still of the same mind.

(4.) The hopes he had of being master of it, though the sons of Anak were in possession of it, v. 12, If the Lord will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out. The city of Hebron Joshua had already reduced, ch. 10. 37. but the mountain which belonged to it, and which was inhabited by the sons of Anak, was yet unconquered, for though the cutting off the Anakims from Hebron was mentioned, ch. 11. 21. because the historian would relate all the military actions together, yet it seems it was not conquered till after they had begun to divide the land. Observe, He builds his hopes of driving out the sons of Anak upon the presence of God with him. He does not say, "Because I am now as strong for war as I was at forty, therefore I shall drive them out," depending upon his personal valour; nor does he depend upon his interest in the warlike tribe of Judah, who attended him now in making this address, and no doubt would assist him. Nor does he court Joshua's aid, or put it upon that, If thou wilt be with me I shall gain my point." But if the Lord will be with me. Here, [1.] He seems to speak doubtfully of God's being with him, not from any distrust of his goodness or faithfulness. He had spoken without the least hesitation of God's presence with Israel in general, Numb. 14. 9, The Lord is with us; but for himself, from a humble sense of his own unworthiness of such a favour, he chooses to express himself thus, If the Lord will be with me. The Chaldee paraphrase reads it, If the Word of the Lord be my helper, that Word which is God, and in the fulness of time was made flesh, and is the Captain of our salvation. [2.] But he speaks without the least doubt, he is assured that if God were with him, he should be able to dispossess the sons of Anak. "If God be with us, if God be for us, who can be against us, so as to prevail?" It is also intimated that if God were not with him, though all the forces of Israel should come in to his assistance, he should not be able to gain his point. Whatever we undertake, God's favourable presence with us is all in all to our success; that therefore we must earnestly pray for, and carefully make sure of, by keeping ourselves in the love of God; and on that we must depend, and from that take our encouragement against the greatest difficulties.

Upon the whole matter, Caleb's request is, v. 12, Give me this mountain, First, Because it was formerly in God's promise, and he would let Israel know how much he valued the promise, insisting upon this mountain, whereof the Lord spake in that