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Numbers 32:12

Old Testament Law (Torah) ASV (1901)

What does Numbers 32:12 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, and Joshua the son of Nun; because they have wholly followed Jehovah.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, and Joshua the son of Nun; because they have wholly followed Jehovah.
Numbers 32:12 — American Standard Version

Context — Numbers 32

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
9For when they went up unto the valley of Eshcol, and saw the land, they discouraged the heart of the children of Israel, that they should not go into the land which Jehovah had given them.
10And Jehovah`s anger was kindled in that day, and he sware, saying,
11Surely none of the men that came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward, shall see the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob; because they have not wholly followed me:
12save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite, and Joshua the son of Nun; because they have wholly followed Jehovah.
13And Jehovah`s anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander to and fro in the wilderness forty years, until all the generation, that had done evil in the sight of Jehovah, was consumed.
14And, behold, ye are risen up in your fathers` stead, an increase of sinful men, to augment yet the fierce anger of Jehovah toward Israel.
15For if ye turn away from after him, he will yet again leave them in the wilderness; and ye will destroy all this people.
← Numbers 32:11Numbers 32:13 →
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What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite, and Joshua the son of Nun, etc.] (see <041430>Numbers 14:30), whether Caleb or Jephunneh is called the Kenezite is not so easy to determine; the latter rather seems to be most correct, for that Caleb should be called so from Kenaz the father of Othniel, who is said to be Caleb’s brother seems not to be agreeable; since it is not likely that they were his own brothers, or Caleb would not have given his daughter to him; besides Jephunneh and not Kenaz is always said to be the father of Caleb, unless his father can be thought to have two names; it is most likely that Jephunneh, and so Caleb, might be called the Kenezite, from an ancestor of theirs…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“The Kenezite - Kenaz Genesis 36:11 was the name of one of the “dukes of Edom:” but Israel and Edom were of kindred origin, and the use of similar names by the two peoples is not surprising. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · 18th-century historical commentary
“The Kenezite - So called from Kenaz, his grand - father. Numbers 32:15”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“32:12 Caleb is identified as a Kenizzite, a descendant of Esau (cp. Gen 36:10-11). Apparently Caleb was not a native Israelite, but a convert who was so thoroughly integrated into the life and faith of Israel that he was called upon to represent the tribe of Judah when the twelve scouts were sent out to survey the Promised Land (Num 13:6).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“for: Num 14:24, Num 14:30, Num 26:65; Deu 1:36; Jos 14:8, Jos 14:9 Numbers 32:13”
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Related study paths

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Sources and verification