Editing Caleb

{{Short description|Biblical character}}
{{about|the son of Jephunneh|the other biblical Caleb|Caleb (son of Hezron)|the given name|Caleb (given name)|other uses|Caleb (disambiguation)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}} 
[[File:Schnorr von Carolsfeld Bibel in Bildern 1860 058.png|thumb|right|''Return of the Spies'', 1860 woodcut by [[Julius Schnorr von Karolsfeld]]|244x244px]]

'''Caleb''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|eɪ|l|ə|b}} {{respell|KAY|ləb}}; {{langx|he|כָּלֵב}}, <small>[[Tiberian vocalization]]:</small> {{Transliteration|he|Kālēḇ}}, <small>[[Modern Israeli Hebrew]]:</small> {{Transliteration|he|Kalév}} {{IPA|he|kaˈlev|}}) is a figure who appears in the [[Hebrew Bible]] as a representative of the [[Tribe of Judah]] during the [[Israelites]]' [[the Exodus|journey]] to the [[Promised Land]].

Following the Israelite conquest of Canaan, Caleb was described as a [[Kenizzite]] and is said to have received lands originally intended for the [[Tribe of Judah]]. The Calebites, his descendants, likely comprised a mixed population of [[Edom]]ite and Judean elements. They resided in [[Hebron Hills|southern Judah]] and in the northern part of the [[Negev]] region.<ref name=":02">{{Cite book |last=Lemche |first=Niels Peter |title=Historical dictionary of ancient Israel |date=2004 |publisher=Scarecrow Press |isbn=978-0-8108-4848-1 |series=Historical dictionaries of ancient civilizations and historical eras |location=Lanham, Md. |pages=87 |quote=}}</ref>

A reference to him is also found in the [[Quran]], although his name is not mentioned ([[Al-Ma'idah]]: 20–26).

==Name==
''Caleb'' is related to the Hebrew word for 'dog' ({{langx|he|כֶּלֶב|keleḇ|label=none}}), with ''[[The Jewish Encyclopedia]]'' reporting that the animal is thought to be "the [[totem]] of a [[clan]]".<ref>Jastrow et al. (1906), [http://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/3918-caleb Caleb] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030073525/http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/3918-caleb |date=30 October 2014 }}.</ref><ref>NAS Exhaustive Concordance, "[http://biblehub.com/nasec/hebrew/3612.htm Keleb] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731083451/http://biblehub.com/nasec/hebrew/3612.htm |date=31 July 2017 }}".</ref>

==Biblical account==
Caleb, son of [[Jephunneh]] from the tribe of [[Tribe of Judah|Judah]] ([[Book of Numbers]], {{bibleverse|Numbers|13:6|9}}), is the same Caleb the great-grandson of [[Judah (son of Jacob)|Judah]] through [[Tamar (Genesis)|Tamar]] ({{bibleverse|1 Chronicles|2:3-9|9}}). He was the son of Hezron and his wife was Azubah ({{bibleverse|1 Chronicles|2:18,19|9}}).
[[File:Altdorfer Joshua and Caleb.jpg|thumb|227x227px|''Joshua and Caleb carrying fruit of the Promised Land,'' woodcut circa 1480 by [[Albrecht Altdorfer]] ]]
According to {{bibleverse|Numbers|13|9}}, Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, was one of [[The Twelve Spies|the twelve spies]] sent by Moses into Canaan. Their task, over a period of 40 days,<ref>{{bibleverse|Numbers|14:34|9}}</ref> was to explore the [[Negev]] and surrounding area, and to make an assessment of the geographical features of the land, the strength and numbers of the [[population]], the [[Agriculture|agricultural]] potential and actual performance of the land, settlement patterns (whether their [[City|cities]] were like camps or strongholds), and [[forestry]] conditions. Moses also asked them to be courageous and to return with samples of local produce.<ref>{{Bibleverse||Numbers|13:17-20|9}}</ref>

In the Numbers 13 listing of the heads of each tribe, {{bibleverse|Numbers|13:6|9|verse 6}} reads "Of the tribe of Judah, Caleb the son of Jephunneh." Caleb's report balanced the appeal of the land and its fruits with the challenge of making a conquest.

{{bibleverse|Numbers|13:30|9|Verse 30}} of chapter 13 reads "And Caleb stilled the people toward Moses, and said: 'We should go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it.{{'"}}<ref name=jps>Jewish Publication Society Version (1917)</ref> Caleb and Joshua said the people should trust God and go into the land; the other ten spies, being fearful and rebellious, argued that conquering the land was impossible. They spread doubt and fear among all the people, who again wished to be back in Egypt (chapter 14 v 1-4).

===Caleb as a Kenizzite===
Caleb the spy is the son of Jephunneh. Jephunneh is called a [[Kenizzite]] ({{bibleverse|Numbers|32:12|9}}, {{bibleverse|Joshua|14:6|9}},{{bibleverse|Joshua|14:14|9|14}}). The Kenizzites are listed as one of the nations associated with the land of Canaan at the time that God made a covenant with Abraham ({{bibleverse|Genesis|15:19|}}). However, Caleb is mentioned alongside the descendants of Judah recorded in {{bibleverse|1 Chronicles|4|9}}: "And the sons of Caleb the son of Jephunneh: Iru, Elah, and Naam; and the sons of Elah: Kenaz" ({{bibleverse|1 Chronicles|4:15|9}}).<ref name=jps /> {{bibleverse|Numbers|13:6|9}}, likewise, lists Caleb as a tribal leader in Judah. Contrarily, the Kenizzites are also generally associated with Kenaz, the son of [[Esau]], making them an [[Edom|Edomite clan]] (see {{bibleverse|Genesis|36:40-43|9}}).<ref name=Freedman>Freedman & Myers (2000), p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=qRtUqxkB7wkC&pg=PA763 763].</ref>

===Deeds===
In the aftermath of the conquest, Caleb asks Joshua to give him a mountain in property within the land of Judah, and Joshua blesses him as a sign of God's blessing and approval, giving him Hebron ({{bibleverse|Joshua|14|9}}). Since Hebron itself was one of the [[Cities of Refuge]] to be ruled by the [[Levites]], it is later explained that Caleb actually was given the outskirts ({{bibleverse|Joshua|21:11-13|9}}). Caleb promised his daughter [[Achsah]] in marriage to whoever would conquer the land of [[Debir]] from the giants. This was eventually accomplished by [[Othniel Ben Kenaz]], Caleb's nephew ({{bibleverse|Judges|1:13|9}}), who became Caleb's son-in-law as well ({{bibleverse|Joshua|15:16,17|9}}).

[[1 Samuel]] {{bibleverse-nb|1 Samuel|25:3|9}} states that [[Nabal]], the husband of [[Abigail]] before [[David]], was "a Calebite" (Hebrew ''klby'').<ref name=Fokkelman>Fokkelman (1981), p. [https://books.google.com/books?id=z2Vj6-v4cv4C&pg=PA482 482].</ref> It is not stated whether this refers to one of the Calebs mentioned in the Bible, or another person bearing the same name.

==Traditional Jewish accounts==
[[File:Caleb2.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Traditional tomb of Caleb, [[Kifl Haris]], one candidate for biblical [[Timnat Serah]]]]

Traditional Jewish sources record a number of stories about Caleb which expand on the biblical account.
Jewish traditions identify [[Mered]] with Caleb, and his wife [[Bithiah]] with the princess who rescued [[Moses]] from the river.<ref>[https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/6739857/jewish/13-Facts-You-Should-Know-About-Bithiah.htm#utm_medium=email&utm_source=1_chabad.org_magazine_en&utm_campaign=en&utm_content=content 13 Facts You Should Know about Bithiah Chabad Library]</ref>

One account records that Caleb wanted to bring produce from the land, but that the other spies discouraged him from doing so in order to avoid giving the Israelites a positive impression of Canaan. They only agreed to carry in samples of produce after Caleb brandished a sword and threatened to fight over the matter.<ref>Ginzberg (1911), p. [https://archive.org/details/legendsofjewstra03ginz/page/270/mode/2up 270].</ref> A [[Midrash]] refers to Caleb being devoted to the Lord and to Moses, splitting from the other scouts to tour [[Hebron]] on his own and visit the [[Cave of the Patriarchs|graves of the Patriarchs]].<ref>Ginzberg (1911), p. [https://archive.org/details/legendsofjewstra03ginz/page/272/mode/2up 272].</ref> While in Canaan with the spies, Caleb's voice was so loud that he succeeded in saving the other spies by frightening giants away from them.<ref>Ginzberg (1911), p. [https://archive.org/details/legendsofjewstra03ginz/page/274/mode/2up 274].</ref>

== Islam ==
Caleb ({{langx|ar|كالب|Kālib}}) is referenced indirectly in the [[Quran]]  and some scholars consider him to be one of the [[Prophets and messengers in Islam|Prophets of Islam]], though this is debated.{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} 
{{Infobox person
| name               = 
| predecessor        = [[Aaron in Islam|Harun]]
| successor          = [[Joshua#In Islam|Yusha bin Nun]]
}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |last= Fokkelman |first= J. P. |author-link= Jan P. Fokkelman |title= Narrative Art and Poetry in the Books of Samuel: A Full Interpretation Based on Stylistic and Structural Analyses |year= 1981 |page= 482 |publisher= Van Gorcum |location= [[Assen]] |isbn= 978-90-232-2175-3 |url= https://books.google.com/books?id=z2Vj6-v4cv4C&pg=PA482 }}
* {{cite book |last= Freedman |first= David Noel |author-link= Freedman |author2= Myers, Allen C. |chapter= Kenaz |title= Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible |page= 763 |year= 2000 |publisher= Amsterdam University Press |isbn= 978-90-5356-503-2 |chapter-url= https://books.google.com/books?id=qRtUqxkB7wkC&pg=PA763 }}
* [[Ginzberg, Louis]] (1911). ''[https://archive.org/details/legendsofjewstra03ginz Legends of the Jews: Bible Times and Characters From the Exodus to the Death of Moses]'' (Volume III). Philadelphia: The [[Jewish Publication Society of America]].
* {{cite book |last1= Jastrow |first1= Morris Jr. |author-link1= Morris Jastrow Jr. |last2= Barton |first2= George A. |author-link2= George A. Barton |last3= Jastrow |first3= Marcus |author-link3= Marcus Jastrow |last4= Ginzberg |first4= Louis |author-link4= Louis Ginzberg |date= 1906 |title= Jewish Encyclopedia |chapter= Caleb |chapter-url= http://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/3918-caleb |access-date= 28 October 2014 |archive-date= 30 October 2014 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141030073525/http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/3918-caleb |url-status= live }}
* NAS Exhaustive Concordance, "[http://biblehub.com/nasec/hebrew/3612.htm Keleb] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731083451/http://biblehub.com/nasec/hebrew/3612.htm |date=31 July 2017 }}", accessed 9 June 2017
{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Caleb (Biblical figure)}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Caleb}}
*[http://jewishencyclopedia.com/ ''The Jewish Encyclopedia,'' 1908]
*[https://www.academia.edu/34948264/Who_Conquered_Hebron_Apologetic_and_Polemical_Tendencies_in_the_Story_of_Caleb_in_Josh_14 Gili Kugler, Who Conquered Hebron? Apologetic and Polemical Tendencies in the Story of Caleb in Josh 14]
{{Qur'anic people}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Tribe of Judah]]
[[Category:Book of Numbers people]]