Joshua 15 describes the allocation of land to the tribe of Judah. The southern border stretched from the wilderness of Zin to the stream bordering Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea, while the eastern border followed the Dead Sea, and the northern boundary included landmarks like Beth Hoglah and the Stone of Bohan, reaching Jerusalem and surrounding valleys. The western border was the Mediterranean Sea.
Caleb, from Judah, was given Hebron, where he expelled the Anakite clans. He also offered his daughter Achsah in marriage to the conqueror of Kiriath Sepher, which his nephew Othniel achieved. Achsah later secured additional springs for her land. The passage lists numerous cities divided by region – southern towns near Edom, cities in the foothills, hill country, and the desert. However, the tribe could not fully drive out the Jebusites from Jerusalem, and they continued to coexist there.
Israel’s land promised by God spanned a great distance in the Middle East but they currently occupy a fraction of what should have been theirs. In Joshua 14, I explained that Caleb had to go back to Hebron as an old man in order to wipe out the enemy from the land promised to him by God. Here in Joshua 15, we read the details of that victory…
He gave Caleb son of Jephunneh the following portion among the descendants of Judah based on the LORD’s instruction to Joshua: Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron; Arba was the father of Anak). [14] Caleb drove out from there the three sons of Anak: Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai, descendants of Anak. [15] From there he marched against the inhabitants of Debir, which used to be called Kiriath-sepher,
Joshua 15:13-15 CSB
However, Joshua 15 ends on somewhat of a sour note because Israel was unable to conquer Jerusalem.
“But the descendants of Judah could not drive out the Jebusites who lived in Jerusalem. So the Jebusites still live in Jerusalem among the descendants of Judah today.”
Joshua 15:63 CSB
We see this referenced in the book of Judges with the blame being put on the tribe of Benjamin instead of Judah…
“At the same time the Benjaminites did not drive out the Jebusites who were living in Jerusalem. The Jebusites have lived among the Benjaminites in Jerusalem to this day.”
Judges 1:21 CSB
The situation regarding the capture of Jerusalem is complex. The reason that both Judah and Benjamin are held accountable is because Jerusalem stretches across the boundary of both tribes. While the tribe of Judah initially captured the city (Jdg 1:8), the tribe of Benjamin failed to drive out the Jebusites from their portion (Jdg 1:21). This difference can be understood as Judah achieving limited success, whereas Benjamin failed comprehensively.
Consequently, the Jebusites and Israelites lived intermingled, as noted in Joshua 15:63 and Judges 1:21. We can assume that “to this day” refers to the time before the reign of King David. The Israelites fully and decisively took Jerusalem during David’s conquest around 1003 B.C. (2 Sam 5:5–10).
The Jebusites were descendants of the third king of Canaan who Joshua had slain after he joined a pact against Gibeon (Joshua 10). Apparently, they fled to Jerusalem and were able to defend it. Most scholars attribute this to a lack of faith and a presence of fear with the sons of Judah. It was difficult to conquer, sitting high on a hill. The truth remained, however, that God had promised it to Israel and they had a responsibility to obey the Lord’s instructions.
Leadership often reveals the tension between submission and volition. Even under strong and faithful leaders like Joshua and Caleb, who displayed unwavering courage and trust in the Lord, the people failed to completely drive out the Canaanites. This highlights the reality that leadership, no matter how exemplary, does not always override the free will and personal decisions of those being led.
Imagine a modern-day scenario where a church is led by a passionate and God-fearing pastor and board who emphasizes the importance of faith and trust in God’s Word. This pastor spends countless hours teaching, discipling, and living as a Christlike example, demonstrating selflessness and unwavering trust in God. Despite this, a significant portion of the congregation remains indifferent, choosing to focus on worldly priorities. While a few members embrace the message wholeheartedly, applying it to their lives and growing spiritually, others participate passively or disengage completely, failing to act on the truth they hear.
This dynamic mirrors what Joshua and Caleb experienced. They stood as examples of courage and trust in God, yet the majority of Israel faltered, grumbling, doubting, and refusing to take possession of the promises laid before them. On a broader scale, it reflects humanity’s relationship with God. Despite God revealing Himself through creation and His Word, many choose to turn away or live in apathy. Leadership, as a result, is often marked by the bittersweet reality of influencing some while being unable to reach others who resist or reject the truth.
While leaders cannot control the responses of others, their faithfulness to their calling can inspire people close to them who are willing to follow, leaving an enduring legacy of courage and obedience for future generations.