Part of this verse refers back to the LORD’s words in 14.24. Good News Translation does not include this verse in the LORD’s oath, but it should be.

None except Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua the son of Nun: In many languages it will be necessary to begin a new sentence here, for example, “The only exceptions are…” (New Living Translation) and “This includes everyone, except…” (similarly Good News Translation). For Caleb the son of Jephunneh, see 13.6; for Joshua the son of Nun, see 11.28 and 13.8. Caleb and his father Jephunneh are identified here as Kenizzite for the first time (also in Josh 14.6, 14). The Kenizzite may be rendered “of the Kenizzite clan.” The Kenizzites were not Israelites. In Gen 15.19 they are mentioned among the prior inhabitants of Canaan. According to Gen 36.11, Kenaz, the forefather of the Kenizzites, was a descendant of Esau. Since the book of Numbers makes it clear that Caleb was chosen as a leader of Judah (13.6; 34.19), at some point the Kenizzites must have become related to or absorbed by the tribe of Judah (see Josh 14.6; 1 Chr 4.15; so Ashley, page 233).

For the idiomatic Hebrew expression rendered for they have wholly followed the LORD (literally “they have filled after the LORD”), see verse 11.

Quoted with permission from de Regt, Lénart J. and Wendland, Ernst R. A Handbook on Numbers. (UBS Helps for Translators). Miami: UBS, 2016. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .