But the open fields beyond the town and the surrounding villages were given to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his possession.
Parallel translations
- WEB But they gave the fields of the city and its villages to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession.
- KJV But the fields of the city, and the villages thereof, gave they to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for his possession.
- BSB But they had given the fields and villages around the city to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his possession.
- NKJV But the fields of the city and its villages they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh as his possession.
- NASB But the fields of the city and its villages they gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh as his possession.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The fields and villages of Hebron, however, remain Caleb's possession. The city's pasture goes to the Levites while Caleb keeps his earned inheritance.
Overview
This careful distinction honors the earlier grant to Caleb, who had wholeheartedly followed the LORD (Joshua 14:13-14). The town itself served the Levites, but the surrounding fields remained Caleb's, showing that God's provisions can be harmonized without conflict. The verse upholds the integrity of God's promises, rewarding faithful Caleb while still providing for His ministers.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
- Josh 14:13–15Joshua blessed him; and he gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance.
- 1 Chr 6:55–57to them they gave Hebron in the land of Judah, and its suburbs around it;
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Christ at the center
Joshua — the same name as Jesus, 'the LORD saves' — leads God's people into their inheritance, a shadow of the greater Joshua who brings us into the true rest and the promised land that remains.
How Joshua 21:12 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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