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Caleb

Old TestamentEgypt & WildernessMaleSon

Caleb (Chelubai), the son of Hezron, was a descendant of Judah and the father of Hur.

Caleb illustration
Caleb

Biography

Caleb son of Hezron, also known as Chelubai, was a descendant of Judah through Hezron, one of the sons of Perez. He is recorded in the genealogies of 1 Chronicles 2 as the progenitor of a significant branch of the Judahite clan. His wife Azubah bore him Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon, and following her death, he married Ephrath, who bore him Hur (1 Chronicles 2:18–20). Hur became the grandfather of Bezalel, the master craftsman of the Tabernacle (Exodus 31:2; 1 Chronicles 2:20). This Caleb of the genealogies is generally distinguished from Caleb son of Jephunneh, the famous spy, though ancient traditions sometimes conflated the two. His descendants were deeply embedded in the tribal structure and territorial claims of Judah.

Significance

Caleb son of Hezron is theologically significant as an ancestor of Bezalel, the Spirit-filled craftsman whom God appointed to construct the Tabernacle (Exodus 31:1–11). Through Caleb's lineage, the tribe of Judah contributed not only to Israel's political leadership but to its liturgical center, the sacred dwelling place of God among His people. This reminds us that God's redemptive purposes are served not only through great leaders and prophets but through artisans, craftsmen, and the quiet succession of faithful families. Caleb's genealogical line thus connects the promises made to Judah with the construction of the very place where those promises were memorialized and celebrated in worship.

Verse Appearances (29)

References

  1. Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
  2. Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
  3. Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
  4. Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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