Caleb

Caleb (meaning dog or possibly bold) is the name of several men in the Old Testament, the most prominent being Caleb son of Jephunneh of the tribe of Judah. He was one of the twelve spies sent by Moses to scout the land of Canaan (Numbers 13:6), and together with Joshua he brought back a faithful report, urging the people to trust God and enter the land. Because of this wholehearted fidelity, Caleb was promised that he and Joshua alone of their generation would enter Canaan (Numbers 14:30). At the age of eighty-five, after the conquest, Caleb boldly requested and received Hebron as his inheritance, driving out the Anakim (Joshua 14:6–15; 15:13–14). His daughter Achsah, given in marriage to Othniel, also appears in the narrative. Caleb became a symbol of steadfast faith and courage in old age.