Caleb and David

The similarities and connections between Caleb and David are truly astounding. Both from the tribe of Judah, these men were similarly praised in scripture for their faithfulness to the Lord:

Joshua 14:14 KJV
Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite unto this day, because that he wholly followed the Lord God of Israel.

Acts 13:22 KJV
And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

The similarities don’t end there. As mentioned in the first verse, Hebron became the inheritance Caleb received in the promise land, but he didn’t get his inheritance easily. Caleb had to fight off giants from his inheritance in order to possess it. Almost everyone, believer and sinner alike, knows David was victorious over the giant Goliath, but very few know Caleb defeated the giants: Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai.

I’m sure if we spent enough time, we would find many more similarities between these two godly men, but I want to focus on two last connections: Israel’s territory and Hebron.

Caleb fights alongside Joshua in Israel’s first territorial conquest in the promised land. The army of Israel in this day had great victory, but they did not possess the full territory God had promised. Many centuries later, David leads the army of Israel over many years and numerous battles to conquer the remaining promised territory. One man started the work, and the other finished it.

Last, Hebron is Caleb’s inheritance in the promise land. It’s also the city where David was first crowned king:

2 Samuel 2:3-4a KJV
And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron. And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah

Caleb’s inheritance became David’s kingdom.