Yes. Caleb was a Gentile and I used the term with promiscuity to represent one of a foreign nation. You properly cited that Caleb was a Kenezite and so he is. Kenezites existed prior to Abraham and there territories were given over to Israel. Hence, Caleb was a ger tzedek adopted into Judah. I hope this helps.
Can you point me to the references that evidences more about the Kenezites? This makes me think of others who were either assumed Israelites or not but called by the lands they lived in, ie Uriah the Hittite, Ruth the Moabite, Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan-aram, etc. Were these all Israelites? I have heard many say Bathsheba was also an Israelite which I don’t think so. Thanks for the edification as I will await a response. APTTMHY
Upon sending you this, I read the following in the Zondervan which I think answers my question about Caleb and make you correct that he was a Gentile by blood among Israel KENITES (k ′n ts, Heb. ha-qên , smith ). 1. One of the ten tribes of Canaan in the time of Abraham (Gen 15:19), perhaps the same as those doomed by the prophecy of Balaam (Num 24:21 - 22). 2. The descendants of Hobab, the brother-in-law of Moses (Judg 4:11). They were friendly with Israel; they went with Judah from Jericho (1:16) and amalgamated with the tribe of Judah. Later, Heber the Kenite (4:11) separated from the others, moved .northward to Kedesh near the Sea of Galilee, and made peace with Jabin king of Hazor. Heber’s wife Jael killed Sisera, the Canaanite general (4:17 - 22). Later Saul, sent to destroy the Amalekites, gave friendly warning to the Kenites (1 Sam 15:6) to depart and save themselves, because of the kindness they had shown to Israel more than 500 years before. [...] Excerpt from: "Zondervan Bible Dictionary" by Zondervan. Scribd. This material may be protected by copyright. KENIZZITE (k ′n z- t, Heb. qenizzî ). A family name derived from Kenaz. One of the ten tribes of Canaan in the days of Abram (Gen 15:19). Some think that the Edomite tribe descended from Kenaz, grandson of Esau (36:11, 15), united at least in part with Israel because Caleb of the tribe of Judah (Josh 14:6, 14) is called the “son” of Jephunneh the Kenizzite. Excerpt from: "Zondervan Bible Dictionary" by Zondervan. Scribd. This material may be protected by copyright.
Blame my obsession with this question but I am still researching. Thanks for making me dig with this more. 1. Caleb appear to have an ancestral line with Esau through his son, Eliphaz Genesis 36:11 KJV And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz. Genesis 36:15 ESV These are the chiefs of the sons of Esau. The sons of Eliphaz the firstborn of Esau: the chiefs Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz, 2. Caleb also appear to be related ancestrally to Canaan (a son of Ham) Genesis 15:18-20 ESV On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, [19] the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, [20] the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim, -So the land of the Kenites and the Kenezzites were given to Abraham which would become part of Judah (Yahudah) territory. Fighting with Israel, Caleb would inherit land among Yahudah (Judah) Joshua 15:13 ESV According to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua, he gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh a portion among the people of Judah, Kiriath-arba, that is, Hebron (Arba was the father of Anak). So I think it makes it clear here that Caleb was a Kenizzite, not Israelite by blood as his ancestry is among the lineage of Canaan. Unless "Kenaz" was a popular name given which there is evidence that suggests (Joshua 15:17, 1 Chronicles 4:15), it also appears as one of the sons of Esau through his son Eliphaz. So its unclear if he actually has lineage to Esau. As you stated succinctly, his ancestor's land were given to Abraham by Elohim and they would have favor and become allies with Israel in their many battles against the nations. Therefore, he was called a "prince of Judah" because he was adopted. Thanks for the information provided which made me dig a little deeper. Many Israelites just parrot, as I did, that Caleb was an Israelite, Ruth and Uriah as well, but this exercise demonstrated to me we must be careful to study to show ourselves approved and not just take what someone says. APTTMHY
Shalom Brother Ariyah. Had a question. I am replaying this and is not quite done listening to this entire lesson, however, I heard you state Caleb was a Gentile starting at 55:14 - 55:16. How did you reason and conclude this? I understand Caleb was from the tribe of Yahudah. Here is what it reads in Numbers (Bemidbar) 13:1-16. Numbers 13:1-16 NLT - Twelve Scouts Explore Canaan The LORD now said to Moses, ² “Send out men to explore the land of Canaan, the land I am giving to the Israelites. Send one leader from each of the twelve ancestral tribes.” ³ So Moses did as the LORD commanded him. He sent out twelve men, all tribal leaders of Israel, from their camp in the wilderness of Paran. ⁴ These were the tribes and the names of their leaders: Tribe Leader Reuben Shammua son of Zaccur ⁵ Simeon Shaphat son of Hori ⁶ Judah Caleb son of Jephunneh
Yes. Caleb was a Gentile and I used the term with promiscuity to represent one of a foreign nation. You properly cited that Caleb was a Kenezite and so he is. Kenezites existed prior to Abraham and there territories were given over to Israel. Hence, Caleb was a ger tzedek adopted into Judah. I hope this helps.
Can you point me to the references that evidences more about the Kenezites? This makes me think of others who were either assumed Israelites or not but called by the lands they lived in, ie Uriah the Hittite, Ruth the Moabite, Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean from Paddan-aram,
etc. Were these all Israelites? I have heard many say Bathsheba was also an Israelite which I don’t think so. Thanks for the edification as I will await a response. APTTMHY
Upon sending you this, I read the following in the Zondervan which I think answers my question about Caleb and make you correct that he was a Gentile by blood among Israel
KENITES
(k ′n ts, Heb. ha-qên , smith ). 1. One of the ten tribes of Canaan in the time of Abraham (Gen 15:19), perhaps the same as those doomed by the prophecy of Balaam (Num 24:21 - 22). 2. The descendants of Hobab, the brother-in-law of Moses (Judg 4:11). They were friendly with Israel; they went with Judah from Jericho (1:16) and amalgamated with the tribe of Judah. Later, Heber the Kenite (4:11) separated from the others, moved .northward to Kedesh near the Sea of Galilee, and made peace with Jabin king of Hazor. Heber’s wife Jael killed Sisera, the Canaanite general (4:17 - 22). Later Saul, sent to destroy the Amalekites, gave friendly warning to the Kenites (1 Sam 15:6) to depart and save themselves, because of the kindness they had shown to Israel more than 500 years before.
[...]
Excerpt from: "Zondervan Bible Dictionary" by Zondervan. Scribd.
This material may be protected by copyright.
KENIZZITE
(k ′n z- t, Heb. qenizzî ). A family name derived from Kenaz. One of the ten tribes of Canaan in the days of Abram (Gen 15:19). Some think that the Edomite tribe descended from Kenaz, grandson of Esau (36:11, 15), united at least in part with Israel because Caleb of the tribe of Judah (Josh 14:6, 14) is called the “son” of Jephunneh the Kenizzite.
Excerpt from: "Zondervan Bible Dictionary" by Zondervan. Scribd.
This material may be protected by copyright.
Blame my obsession with this question but I am still researching. Thanks for making me dig with this more.
1. Caleb appear to have an ancestral line with Esau through his son, Eliphaz
Genesis 36:11 KJV
And the sons of Eliphaz were Teman, Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz.
Genesis 36:15 ESV
These are the chiefs of the sons of Esau. The sons of Eliphaz the firstborn of Esau: the chiefs Teman, Omar, Zepho, Kenaz,
2. Caleb also appear to be related ancestrally to Canaan (a son of Ham)
Genesis 15:18-20 ESV
On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, “To your offspring I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the river Euphrates, [19] the land of the Kenites, the Kenizzites, the Kadmonites, [20] the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Rephaim,
-So the land of the Kenites and the Kenezzites were given to Abraham which would become part of Judah (Yahudah) territory.
Fighting with Israel, Caleb would inherit land among Yahudah (Judah)
Joshua 15:13 ESV
According to the commandment of the LORD to Joshua, he gave to Caleb the son of Jephunneh a portion among the people of Judah, Kiriath-arba, that is, Hebron (Arba was the father of Anak).
So I think it makes it clear here that Caleb was a Kenizzite, not Israelite by blood as his ancestry is among the lineage of Canaan. Unless "Kenaz" was a popular name given which there is evidence that suggests (Joshua 15:17, 1 Chronicles 4:15), it also appears as one of the sons of Esau through his son Eliphaz. So its unclear if he actually has lineage to Esau.
As you stated succinctly, his ancestor's land were given to Abraham by Elohim and they would have favor and become allies with Israel in their many battles against the nations. Therefore, he was called a "prince of Judah" because he was adopted. Thanks for the information provided which made me dig a little deeper. Many Israelites just parrot, as I did, that Caleb was an Israelite, Ruth and Uriah as well, but this exercise demonstrated to me we must be careful to study to show ourselves approved and not just take what someone says.
APTTMHY
Shalom Brother Ariyah. Had a question. I am replaying this and is not quite done listening to this entire lesson, however, I heard you state Caleb was a Gentile starting at 55:14 - 55:16. How did you reason and conclude this? I understand Caleb was from the tribe of Yahudah. Here is what it reads in Numbers (Bemidbar) 13:1-16.
Numbers 13:1-16 NLT - Twelve Scouts Explore Canaan
The LORD now said to Moses, ² “Send out men to explore the land of Canaan, the land I am giving to the Israelites. Send one leader from each of the twelve ancestral tribes.” ³ So Moses did as the LORD commanded him. He sent out twelve men, all tribal leaders of Israel, from their camp in the wilderness of Paran. ⁴ These were the tribes and the names of their leaders:
Tribe Leader
Reuben Shammua son of Zaccur
⁵ Simeon Shaphat son of Hori
⁶ Judah Caleb son of Jephunneh
Shalom Dauid, the Morei responded to your question below. Thank you kindly for the dialogue.