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Role
Faithful spy who followed the LORD fully
When
c. 1400 BC (traditional)

What they did

One of the twelve spies; with Joshua he urged Israel to go up and possess the land. At eighty-five he asked for the hill country of Hebron and drove out the giants there.

Why it matters: the purpose of their role

God honoured him because he 'had another spirit' and 'followed me fully'. As a Kenezite counted in Judah, he also shows that those of other descent could share Israel's inheritance.

But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it. Numbers 14:24 (KJV)

Bible references

And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once, and possess it; for we are well able to overcome it. Numbers 13:30 (KJV)
But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land whereinto he went; and his seed shall possess it. Numbers 14:24 (KJV)
Save Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenezite, and Joshua the son of Nun: for they have wholly followed the LORD. Numbers 32:12 (KJV)
And now, behold, the LORD hath kept me alive, as he said, these forty and five years, even since the LORD spake this word unto Moses, while the children of Israel wandered in the wilderness: and now, lo, I am this day fourscore and five years old. As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in. Now therefore give me this mountain, whereof the LORD spake in that day; for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there, and that the cities were great and fenced: if so be the LORD will be with me, then I shall be able to drive them out, as the LORD said. And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh Hebron for an inheritance. 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. Joshua 14:10-14 (KJV)

Family

Father
Jephunneh
Children
Achsah (daughter), Iru, Elah, Naam

Gave his daughter Achsah to Othniel (Joshua 15:16-17). His sons are listed in 1 Chronicles 4:15. Othniel son of Kenaz is called Caleb's younger brother (Judges 1:13).