Starting with the tribe of Judah, Joshua begins to apportion lands to the remaining Israelite tribes. In contrast to all the other tribes, Judah produces a plethora of biblical villains and heroes.

One of the heroes at the time was Caleb, Judah's greatest hero. Caleb has stood shoulder to shoulder with Joshua, without fail, for many decades. Like Joshua, Caleb takes the Lord God's promises to heart and trusts they will be fulfilled in due time (Joshua 14:10, 12). In addition, like Moses, Caleb is the epitome of a brave and biblical, godly and gracious, valiant and victorious man of God. He ″followed the Lord [his] God wholeheartedly″ (vv. 8-9, 14). Like Caleb, the righteous person today who obeys the Lord wholeheartedly eventually succeeds in extraordinary ways, with ″the Lord helping″ them (v. 12).

In today's Scripture passage, we find not one but two stories about Caleb and his family's inheritance of land. In the first, Joshua gives Caleb the land that the Lord God promised to him and his family (vv. 13-14). In the second, Caleb gives his daughter Aksah a greatly appreciated second parcel of land (15:19-20).

The book of Joshua records only half a dozen occasions when people spoke to him. This is one such occasion (14:6-12). Notice that Caleb does not come alone; he comes with a delegation of top leaders within his tribe, who stand in full support and agreement with everything Caleb says (v. 6). It is important for Caleb to make his request publicly. That way, he avoids any appearance of asking Joshua for a personal favour. Also, he asks only for what the Lord God has promised would be ″[his] inheritance and that of [his] children″ (v. 9).

Notice that the promise is to Caleb and his children, which directly applies to Caleb's daughter Aksah. After Othniel wins Aksah's hand in marriage (15:16-17), Caleb gives part of his inheritance to the newlyweds and he gives her a second parcel of the land when she requests for it (vv. 18-20).

Aksah's inheritance forms part of her dowry and remains in the family of Caleb and Othniel, and it witnesses to God's ongoing blessing for Caleb's faith.