Study Questions:
1. Who took the city of Kiriath-arba, which is Hebron, and what was their reward? Joshua 15:16, 17
2. What sin did Ephraim commit in their territory? Joshua 16:10
Commentary and Reflection:
For today’s commentary, I’ll reference two biblical commentaries.
The main points to consider in Joshua 15 are:
“(1) The fulfilment of the prophecy of the pre-eminence of Judah uttered by Jacob (Genesis 49:8-12), due no doubt originally to the pre-eminence of Judah for gentleness and justice above all his brethren except Joseph;
(2) the picture of filial and parental affection in the family of Caleb, as evinced by the manner in which Achsah made her request, and the readiness with which, being a reasonable one, it was granted;
(3) the valour of Othniel, fitting him for his future eminence as a deliverer and judge of Israel; and
(4) the want of faith, noticed more particularly elsewhere, which, while cities of such importance as are here enumerated had been given by God into the hand of Judah, this tribe did not appropriate to itself the promise, and the Philistine cities became the sorest thorns in their sides of all their surrounding enemies. We may add
(5) that Caleb’s behaviour to Achsah supplies us with an illustration of the text, “If ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall your heavenly Father give good things to them that ask Him” (Matthew 7:11).” The Pulpit Commentary, Joshua 15
“Before the time of David, Judah was not able to drive out the Jebusites. It may have been unbelief, coming from conscious sin or from a weak distrust of God, that made the tribe of Judah feel that they were unequal to this task. The lesson is apparent. When we decline to do the work that God has bidden us to perform, on the ground that we are unable to accomplish it, we are equally manifesting our unbelief. When faith departs, fear necessarily enters in to take its place. When we fail to have faith in God, our hearts will fail before our enemies. Then zeal departs also, and inaction and indifference follow.” SDABC, Joshua 15:63
“An indictment is brought against the Ephraimites for not driving out the Canaanites from Gezer. Instead they put them under tribute. The real motive was probably covetousness, so that the Ephraimites might be profited by their services. The city and its inhabitants were not destroyed until Solomon’s time, when Pharaoh, king of Egypt, took Gezer and gave it to his daughter, Solomon’s wife (1 Kings 9:16).
By allowing these foreigners to stay in their midst, the Ephraimites were endangering themselves spiritually. The future history of this tribe shows them lapsing completely into idolatry until God was forced to declare through His prophet, “Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone” (Hosea 4:17). The fate of Ephraim and the associated tribes should serve as a warning to us, not to yoke ourselves together with unbelievers (2 Cor. 6:14). Such an association is almost always detrimental.” SDABC, Joshua 16:10
When God issues a command, it is surely for our benefit. Even if we do not understand it or have a “better idea,” obedience always yields better outcomes in the end.
May God grant you a blessed day with your loved ones.
