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The word translated "slack" is the Hebrew raphah. In II Sam. 21: 16, 18, 20 and 22
it occurs as a noun and is translated "giant", as though it were the Hebrew word rapha,
from which rephaim is derived. Both the A.V. and the R.V. seem a little uneasy about
translating this word "giant", for both state in the margin that the Hebrew word is raphah.
We believe that the word conveys a deeper meaning than appears in these translations. If
raphah the verb means "to slack", raphah as a noun could mean "The Appaller, one who
makes others faint of fail". This is the view taken by Parkhurst, and it is certainly borne
out by the effect upon the ten spies, as their own words testify.
"There we saw giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in
our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight" (Num. 13: 33).
The play upon two like-sounding words rapha and raphah is a common feature in the
Hebrew O.T.
There is one fundamental of dispensational truth which we have reiterated almost to
the weariness of our readers. We have often referred to the distinction between the
"hope" and the "prize", between that which is a question of sheer grace and that which,
though still by grace, is in the nature of a reward, and has to do with conflict and
overcoming. We have stressed the difference between the position of Ephesians with its
"boldness with confidence" and that of Philippians with its "fear and trembling". We
have drawn attention in the Epistle to the Hebrews to the fact that while Abraham had the
land of promise given to him as a gift by an unconditional covenant, he also had,
although this is not revealed in the O.T., the promise of the heavenly city as a reward for
his faithfulness (Heb. 11:-12:). This same kind of distinction we shall find again as we
consider the teaching of Josh. 19: and 15: In these chapters we have the division of the
land and the portion that fell to Judah in accordance with God's promise, and also the
special Overcomer's portion, the added "reward of the inheritance" (Col. 3: 24), the
"prize of the high calling" (Phil. 3: 14) claimed by Caleb and Othniel.
The account in the section before us--Josh. 14: 6 - 15: 63--alternates between Judah
the tribe and their inheritance, and Caleb the Overcomer and his inheritance.
Josh. 14: 6 - 15: 63.
A1 | 14: 6. JUDAH comes to Joshua in Gilgal.
B1 | 14: 6-15. CALEB, THE OVERCOMER.--
The promise made in Kadesh-Barnea. Hebron. Rest.
A2 | 15: 1-12. JUDAH.--Inheritance divided among families. The borders.
B2 | 15: 13-19. CALEB, THE OVERCOMER.--
Sons of Anak driven out.
A3 | 15: 20-62. JUDAH.--Inheritance divided among families. The cities.
B3 | 15: 63. NOT LIKE CALEB.--Not overcomers.
Did not drive out the Jebusites.
It is suggestive that Joshua is found at Gilgal when the division of the inheritance is to
be put in hand. Gilgal was the place where the reproach of Egypt was rolled away, and