that some of them were Ch. 11. 22. Touching the name of Caleb, the sonne of Iephunneh the Kenezite: Iephone, saith Lyra, some expound divertens, holding it to bee an Appellative, and not a proper name; and that hee was so called, because hee turned himselfe from the evill counsell of the other searchers; some prudent, and seeing, from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; but Jephunneh certainly was the proper name of Calebs father, 1 Chron. 4. 15. Indeed hee is not mentioned, 1 Chron. 2. 9. where Chelubai, which probably was this Caleb, is numbred a∣mongst the immediate sonnes of Hezron, the sonne of Pharez, the sonne of Ju∣dah. But Caleb by the very name used, is mentioned both v. 18. and v. 42. here he is said to be the brother of Jerhameel, who is said to bee the first borne of Ez∣ron, v. 25. and this Chaleb is said to have had a daughter called Achsah, v. 49. of which daughter of this Caleb in question, see Josh. 15. 16. Of Caleb the sonne of Jephunneh yet we read not, till 1 Chron. 4. 15. which maketh it questionable, whether there were not more Calebs; and touching this man, the sonne of Je∣phunneh, whether hee came of Hezron, or no; although Lyra saith, that it is constantly to be held that he came of Hezron, who had also another name, Je∣phunneh. But because Calebs age doth not agree, this must be left as uncertain, yet not so much for that, as for the name Jephunneh, because Pharez being very young when they came into Egypt, might beget Hezron 80 yeares after, and he at 80 might beget Caleb, unto which Calebs age of 40 at the going out of Egypt being added all together, make 200 yeares. Moreover, why Caleb is cal∣led the Kenezite, is a great question, but Lyra also resolveth it, according to the Hebrews, thus; Jephunneh being dead, the mother of Caleb, his widow, mari∣ed with Kenez, from whom, because he brought him up, he was thus called. Some thinke that Kenez was the father of Jephunneh, and so one brother of his was properly thus called, Josh. 15. 17. Some that he was so called from some exploit that he did. But nothing can herein be said certainly.
And Joshua blessed Caleb, and gave him Hebron, &c. Hee blessed, both by publishing his deserved praises; and as a man of God, praying for his good successe in attempting to take this place againe, and to expell the Anakims thence. But because Hebron was one of the Cities given to the Levites, Josh. 21. [Qu.] 11, 13. it may be demanded, how Caleb had it to him and his for a possession? They had onely the houses to inhabit in, and the Suburbs, but hee all the lands about; his goodnesse in this appearing, that when he had obtained it, as a sin∣gular reward of his faith and prowesse, yet he was content to give part back againe to the Priests, and to be a City of refuge, Ch. 20. 7.
And the name of Hebron before was Kiriath-arba, who was a great man amongst the Anakims. Kiriath-arba, signifieth the City of Arba, the father of Anak, Ch. 15. 13. The Vulgar Latine for these words, who was a great man, hath Adam maximus inter Anakim ihi situs est. Whereupon many have held it to be called Kiriath-arbah, for the buriall of foure there, Adam, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; but this is a most erroneous reading, as the Jesuites themselves acknowledg; but of this conceit it see more, Gen. 23. 2. And the Land rested from Warre: this is repeated againe, from Ch. 11. 23. to shew, that they might now freely goe a∣bout this division of the land, because the enemies were now quiet, and none durst make head against them, to interrupt them herein.
Mystically, saith Origen, by Caleb, who had a possession given him before all others, understand the heart, for Caleb signifieth, as the heart: and Jephunneh, whose sonne he is said to be, converting himself, the heart then turned from evill to good, shall surely have a possession in the heavenly Canaan, and bee blessed.