auenger of bloud vntill he stoode before the Congregation 1 And the Lorde spake c. Whereas it came not in their minde to appoint the cities of refuge vntill they were admonished againe it seemeth that their slacknesse is couertly reproued for this was decreed before by the commaundement of God beyond Iordan When the like and the verie same reason is here wherefore doe they staie why doe they not bring to an end that which they had well begonne considering that it was for great cause that innocent persons should haue safe places of refuge appointed them least the land should be defiled with bloud for except that remedie had bene vsed the kinsemen of them that were slaine by rashly reuenging their death would haue doubled the mischiefe Surely the people ought not to haue bene slacke in prouiding to auoyde that which might be a spot or defiling of the lande Whereby we may see how slowe men are not onely to doe their duetie but also to be carefull of their owne health except God did often pricke them foreward and prouoke them with the spurres of his exhortations Howbeit it appeareth by this that their offence was but of negligence that they are immediatly readie to obey and doe not prolong the matter nor hinder and staie so necessarie a busines with vnprofitable contentions But what was the lawe of these Sanctuaries we haue elsewhere declared For by them was no impunitie geuen to wilfull murders but if any man through error or chaunce had slaine a man that was not his enimie he had safe refuge vnto these cities which were appointed for the same purpose So God helped the poore wretches where they were without fault least they should haue suffered punishment vnworthily when they had committed no wicked facte In the meane time God of his clemencie graunted thus much to the brethren and kinsemen of them that were dead that their sorrowe shoulde not be increased by hauing them daily in their sight by whom they were depriued of their friendes Finally the people was accustomed to detest all manslaughter when such manslaiers as were acquitted of murder should be banished from their house and from their contrie vntill the death of the high priest For that temporall punishment did clearely shewe how pretious mans bloud is in the sight of god So the lawe both to the whole state and euerie priuate member was iust indifferent and profitable But we must note breefly that euerie point is not here sette forth in order For vppon this condition he that had slaine a man by chaunce might be preserued from danger if first he appered in iudgement to answer the cause and after it was throughly discussed and debated he were acquitted of murder as is more at large declared by Moses concerning this whole matter 7 And they appointed c. The verbe KADESH which here is set doeth signifie also To consecrate and appoint Wherefore I iudge that the citties were so chosen out as serued best for the common profite Whereby it is gathered that they did truely moderate themselues that priuate vtilitie gaue place to publique profite But in the next Chapter wee shall see that Kiriath-arba which afterward was called Hebron was translated to the Leuites whereas before it was vnder the dominion of Caleb Wherein the rare yea the incomparable continencie of that holy man appeared which willingly deliuered vp to other men as well the citie as the suburbes which he might well haue challenged to himselfe so soone as the lotte did shew that such was the pleasure of god And it was needefull briefly to touch this chaunge because God would haue the refuge to be only in the cities of the Leuites that their innocencie might be defended among them with more fidelitie and authoritie Chap. 21. THen came the principall fathers of the Leuites vnto Eleazar the Priest and vnto Ioshue the sonne of Nun and vnto the chiefe fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel 2 And spake vnto them at Shiloh in the land of Chanaan saying The Lorde commaunded by the hand of Moses to giue vs cities to dwell in with the suburbes thereof for our cattell 3 So the children of Israel gaue vnto the Leuites out of their inheritance at the commaundement of the Lord these cities with their suburbes 4 And the lotte came out for the families of the Kohathites and the children of Aaron the Priest which were of the Leuites had by lot out of the tribe of Iudah and out of the tribe of Simeon and out of the tribe of Beniamin thirteene cities 5 And the rest of the children of Kohath had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim and out of the tribe of Dan and out of the halfe tribe of Manasseh ten cities 6 Also the children of Gershon had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar and out of the tribe of Asher and out of the tribe of Nepthalie and out of the halfe tribe of Manasseh in Bashan thirteene cities 7 The children of Merarie according to their families had out of the tribe of Ruben and out of the tribe of Gad and out of the tribe of Zebulun twelue cities 8 So the children of Israel gaue by lot vnto the Leuites these cities with their suburbes as the Lorde had commaunded by the hand of Moses 9 And they gaue out of the tribe of the children of Iudah and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon these cities whiche are here named 10 And they were the childrens of Aaron being of the families of the Kohathites and of the sonnes of Leui for theirs was the first lotte 11 So they gaue them Kiriath-arba of the father of Anok which is Hebron in the mountaine of Iudah with the suburbes of the same rounde about it 12 But the lande of the citie and the villages thereof gaue they to Caleb the sonne of Iephunneh to be his possession 13 Thus they gaue to the children of Aaron the Priest a citie of refuge for the slayer euen Hebron with her suburbes and Libnah with her suburbes 14 And Iattir with her suburbes and Eshtemoa and her suburbes 15 And Holon with her suburbes and Debir with her suburbes 16 And Ain with her suburbes and Iuttah with her suburbes Beth shemesh with her suburbes nine cities out of those two tribes 17 And out of the tribe of Beniamin they gaue Gibeon with her suburbes Geba with her suburbes 18 Anathoth with her suburbes and Almon with her suburbes foure cities 19 All the cities of the children of Aaron Priests were thirteene cities with their suburbes 1 Then came c. Here is declared afterward that which should haue gone before For the cities of refuge were not geuen before they were assigned to the Leuites As also we must remember that which was saied before that Iosue and Eleazer made an ende of diuiding the lande for the lande was not iustly diuided vntill the Leuites had their dwelling place appointed them
Therefore we must consider that when the lottes were cast in the name of the ten tribes certeine cities in the land of Chanaan were drawen out of euery portion in which the Leuites shoulde dwell For they had their portion alredie appointed them beyond Iordan But whereas the Leuites come and require that the gifte of God may be confirmed that they might possesse their cities with their suburbes it is like they were neglected vntill they pleaded their owne cause For so it falleth out commonly while euery man is busie to prouide for him selfe they forgette their brethren Surely it was a shame for the people to be pulled by the eare and to be brought in remembraunce of that which God had so plainly commaunded concerning the Leuites And yet if they had not spoken earnestly for a house they were in daunger to haue lien abroade in the fieldes Although we may easily gather that the people offended rather of negligence and forgetfulnesse than of purpose to defraud them for they make no delay as soone as they are admonished yea their obedience is praised that according to the worde of the Lorde they performed that which was equall and right 4 And the lotte c. Here is set foorth the number of the cities whereof must be spoken soone after Secondly here is plainely expressed that the lot of the sonnes of Aaron fell in the tribe of Iuda which happened not by chance for God by his meruellous counsell placed them in that seate where he had appointed his Temple to be builded Thirdly the names of the cities are rehearsed whereof Hebron is the first which Caleb suffered to be taken from him with a good will. If any man obiect that Hierusalem should haue bene especially geuen them where they should haue their lawefull abiding place the answere is easie that small and meane cities were deliuered to them such as their state required Moreouer Hierusalem was not yet recouered for the Iebusites had it in possession Finally it had bene against reason that the seate of the kingdome should haue bene appointed to the Priestes And in this their faith and religion was better approued that they went willingly out of their natiue countrie to doe their duetie about the holy affaires For no Priest did his office there but he was aforeigner dwelt in some other place But yet their infirmitie was borne withall when they were rewarded with cities that were neere about least it should be troublesome to them to take along iourney to doe their office But whereas one onely familie and that not verie populous had thirteene cities graunted for their habitation hereof is confirmed that I haue noted elsewhere that the other tribes had manie cities vnder their dominion whereof here is no mention and that shal be confirmed more certeinly soone after 20 But to the families of the children of Kohath of the Leuits which were the rest of the children of Kohath for the cities of their lot were out of the tribe of Ephraim 21 They gaue them the citie of refuge for the slaier Shechem with her suburbes in mount Ephraim and Gezer with her suburbes 22 And Kibzaim with her suburbes and Beth-horon with her suburbes foure cities 23 And out of the tribe of Dan Eltkeh with her suburbes Gibethon with her suburbes 24 Aiialon with her suburbes Gath-rimmon with her suburbes foure cities 25 And out of the halfe tribe of Manasseh Tanach with her suburbes and Gath-rimmon with her suburbes two cities 26 All the cities for the other families of the children of Kohath were ten with their suburbes 27 Also vnto the children of Gershon of the families of the Leuites they gaue out of the halfe tribe of Manasseh the citie of refuge for the slaier Golan in Bashan with her suburbes and Beeshterah with her suburbes two cities 28 And out of the tribe of Issachar Kis-hon with her suburbs Dabereh with her suburbes 29 Iarmuth with her suburbes En-gannim with her suburbes foure cities 30 And out of the tribe of Asser Mishal with her suburbes Abdon with her suburbes 31 Helkoh with her suburbes and Rehob with her suburbes foure cities 32 And out of the tribe of Naphtali the citie of refuge for the slaier Kedesh in Galil with her suburbes and Hammoth-dor with her suburbes and Kartan with her suburbes three cities 33 All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteene cities with there suburbes 34 Also vnto the families of the children of Merari the rest of the Leuites they gaue out of the tribe of Zebulun Iokneam with her suburbes and Cartah with her suburbes 35 Dimnah with her suburbes Nahalal with her suburbes foure cities 36 And out of the tribe of Ruben Bezer with her suburbes and Iahazah with her suburbes 37 Kedemoth with her suburbes and Mephaath with her suburbes foure cities 38 And out of the tribe of Gad they gaue for a citie of refuge for the slaier Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbes and Mahanaim with her suburbes 39 Heshbon with her suburbes and Iazer with her suburbes foure cities in all 40 So all the cities of the children of Merari according to their families which were the rest of the families of the Leuites were by their lot twelue cities 41 And all the cities of the Leuites within the possession of the children of Israel were eight and fourtie with their suburbes 42 These cities lay euerie one seuerally with their suburbes round about them so were all these cities 43 So the Lorde gaue vnto Israel all the land which he had sworne to giue vnto their fathers and they possessed it and dwelt therein 44 Also the Lorde gaue them rest round about according to all that he had sworne vnto their fathers and there stoode not a man of all their enimies before them for the Lord deliuered all their enimies into their hand 45 There failed nothing of all the good thinges which the Lorde had said vnto the house of Israel but all came to passe 20 But to the families of the sonnes of Kahath c. For what cause it behoued the Leuites to be dispersed into euerie tribe let the reader seeke in Moses Indeed this punishment was laied vppon their father for the vnfaithfulnesse and crueltie which he practised against the Sichemites But in steede of reproch this dispersion was turned into their exceeding great honour that they being placed as watchmen in euerie region might keepe the people in the pure worship of god They were indeede but as tenantes in euerie place but with so great dignitie as ouerseers appointed by God to take heed that the people should not fall away from true godlinesse This is the reason why it is reported so diligently how many cities fell vnto them in euerie tribe that they might be alwayes as watchmen to preserue the purenesse of religion amongst them 41 All the cities of the Leuites c. This place especially doeth teach that which I haue touched once or twise before that the boundes
A Commentarie of M. Iohn Caluine vpon the Booke of Iosue finished a little before his death Translated out of Latine into Englishe by W. F. Wherevnto is added a table of the principall matters ¶ Imprinted at London for George Bishop 1578. The Argument of the Booke of Iosue COncerning the author of this booke it is better that we shoulde suspend our iudgement than that we should affirme any thing of so vncerteine a matter They which thinke it was Iosue because it is intituled of his name leane vppon a verie slight and weake reason For the holy historie beareth the name of Samuel in which notwithstanding is a rehersal of such maters as followed after his death And surely the booke which followeth next in order is not therfore called the booke of Iudges because it was written by them but because it reporteth such things as were done by them and vnder their gouernment Now that historie which is reported in the. 15. Chapter of the taking of the two cities Hebron Debir was executed after the death of Iosue It were therefore a more likely coniecture to thinke that the principall summes of matters were gathered together by Eliazar the high Priest out of which this booke was compiled made For it was his peculiar charge not only to teach the people of his age by his owne voyce while he liued but also to leaue a testimonie vnto the posteritie of the grace of God in preseruing his Church that true religion might the better be enlarged And before the Leuites grewe out of kinde from their first institutiō they had among them by order as it were publike Notaries or Registrers which committed to perpetuall memorie whatsoeuer was worthie to be remembred in the gouernment of the Church But as for that which is not certeinly knowen vnto vs neither yet is verie necessarie to be knowen let vs not be loath to leaue it in doubt and vncerteintie so long as we are certeine of that which is the cheefest point namely that the doctrine which is conteined in this booke is inspired of the holie Ghost for our profite out of which no small fruite may be receiued of the diligent and attentiue readers For although the people hauing before this time obteined notable victories dwelled in a countrie that was of reasonable commodities and meanelie good fruitfulnesse yet the promise of God concerning the land of Chanaan remained still in suspense wanted execution Yea the chiefest point of the couenant as yet did lacke the effect performaunce as though that God after he had cast the people into a narrowe corner had geuen ouer his enterprise and left it maymed and vnperfect This booke therefore declareth that when the intollerable vngodlinesse of the people had broken off the course of their deliuerance yet God notwithstanding in taking punishment of their sinnes did so temper the rigour of his iudgement that neuerthelesse at the length he performed whatsoeuer he promised of the inheritance of the land of Chanaan Where also we meete with a verie profitable consideration that although men being taken away by death doe faile in the middest of their course yet the faith of Gods promise neuer falleth away There seemed to followe by the death of Moses an heauie chaunge conuersion of the state The people were left as a body whose head was cut off In this so great feare of their dispersion appeared not only the immortall truth of God which neuer dieth though men decay but also in the person of Iosue was declared and shewed as it were in a notable cleare glasse that when God taketh away those men whom he hath adorned with singular gifts he hath enow in store whom he can set vp in their place and that although he will haue some men to excell for a time yet his power is not so tied vnto their persons but he can finde successours for them whensoeuer it pleaseth him yea he can raise vp men of stones which shal be meete to take in hand the greatest affaires First of all therefore when the passage through the redde Sea in the space of 40. yeeres by which God led the people through the wildernesse was almost growne out of remembrance by the same miracle in the passage of the riuer Iordan the continuall tenure course of their deliuerance was againe renewed continued As for the renewing of Circumcision was as much as if God should afresh establish his couenant which through the shamefull negligence of the people was buried or through their infidelitie despaire reiected Then it followeth howe by the hande of God they were brought into the possession of the lande of promise The taking of the first citie was an earnest pledge vnto them of that vertue power of God which they should hope for in all the rest while at the only sound of the trumpettes the walles of Hiericho were shaken fell downe of their owne accorde And yet these nations were not discomfited in one battell nor chased away by warres of short continuance but by litle litle they were spent and wasted away by many painefull conflictes Where also it is to be noted that the people had many great difficulties laid in their way whiles the Kings that were their enimies conspiring together gathered all their forces into one and so came to fight against them so that they had not warre with euerie people seuerally at sundrie times but with an infinite multitude which might haue runne ouer the Israelites all at one brunt But these their violent attempts in the end haue this issue that whiles the power of God sheweth it selfe to be aboue them his mercie also and faithfulnesse in defence of his elect people shineth more gloriously Vndoubtedly that continuall course of their happie successe so many wonderfull victories did openly represent the hand of God as it were stretcht out of heauen to help them But this was a most manifest proofe that they warred vnder the conduct of God himselfe that at the request of Iosue the course of the Sunne was stayed as though all creatures of the world being armed vnto his aide were present at his commaundement Now although the long deferring of the finall discomfiture of these nations was a profitable triall of the constancie of the people yet must we therein consider the wonderfull purpose of God whereof they were admonished in good time by Moses that they shoulde not faint through wearinesse namely that God woulde not haue those nations at once destroyed least the wilde beastes should enter vpon the countrie being voyde of inhabitantes But whereas God by this appointment had verie well prouided for their securitie in time to come they through their wickednes turned it into their owne destruction For when they had once obteined sufficient roome cōmodious for their habitatiō as they thought through their wicked slouth cowardlinesse they turned their course backeward shamefully retired which one offence of theirs
footing in the land of Chanaā but that you may enioy the same as your owne For truly when mentiō is made of chasing away the nations a quiet and vndisturbed possession is noted Therefore as by diuiding of the riuer God clearly shewed that his power was with the Israelites so the people likewise ought to conceiue hope of continuall aide as if they had alredie seene their enimies vanquished and discomfited For God vseth not to forsake the worke of his hands which he hath taken vpon him maymed and vnperfect God diuided the waters of Iordan to make a drie passage to bring his people into the promised inheritance Therefore what had bene greater frowardnesse than that they should haue stayed in that one transitorie acte and not to haue had sure trust in him alwayes afterward vntill they had obteined full and quiet possession of the lande Wherefore by this example let vs learne wisely to ioyne together such benefits of God as perteine to the summe of our saluation that happie beginnings may nourish in vs an hope of like ending And whereas Iosue doeth say that the people should knowe by that miracle that God was present he doth couertly reproue their distrust because the only promise of God ought to haue ben sufficient to their ful assurance vpō which alone if our faith be not grounded we can not choose but wauer and stagger often times But notwithstanding that our faith ought properly to rest in the onely trueth of God yet that letteth not but triall by experience as a second prop of our weakenesse and a profitable aide for confirmation may help to stay the same For that which God hath promised by his worde he sealeth and confirmeth by the deed it selfe and looke how many documents of his grace and power he setteth foorth vnto vs in actes he would haue them to be so many trialles of his word aids to take away all doubfulnes 11 Behold the Arke c. First he saith the Arke shall goe before them then he declareth for what end namely that Iordane might geue place as astonished at the presence sight of God as it is said in the Psalme As for that storie which is interlaced of the twelue men c. is broken off because he doeth but only touch breefly those matters which afterward he setteth out plainly and more at large Now let vs obserue no more but this that when the Ark went before God shewed his power in gouerning the people And by this meanes was cōmended that religious worship which was according to the lawe when the Israelites did see that it was no vaine thing which God committed to them to be the token of his presence For the riuer Iordane was none otherwise constreined vnto obedience than if it had seene the maiestie of god And yet withall let vs remember that God was not moued in any other respect to set forth his grace in the Arke but because he had placed therein the tables of his couenant And because the matter was hard to be credited Iosue called backe the minds of the people to consider the power of God which ouercōmeth all difficulties For it is no small title The Lord of all the earth which is here geuen to God but it aduaunceth his authoritie ouer all the elementes of the worlde that the Israelites should not doubt seeing that seas and flouds are vnder his dominion but that the waters though of their owne nature they be running yet by his commandement should be made to stand vnmoueable 14 Then when the people were departed from their tentes to goe ouer Iordan the Priests bearing the Arke of the couenant went before the people 15 And as they that bare the Arke came vnto Iordan and the feete of the Priests that bare the Arke were dipped in the brinke of the water for Iordan vseth to fill all his banks all the time of haruest 16 Then the waters that came downe from aboue stayed and rose vp on an heape and departed farre from the citie of Adan that was beside Zaretan but the waters that came downe towarde the Sea of the wildernesse euen the salt Sea failed and were cut off so the people went right ouer against Iericho 17 But the Priests that bare the Arke of the couenant of the Lord stood dry within Iordan redie prepared and all the Israelites went ouer drye vntill all the people were gone cleane ouer through Iordan 15 After they came c. The vertue of the Priests was worthie of no smal cōmendation which went forward boldly into the chanell euen into the water it selfe where manifest daunger of drowning seemed to be For after they had once entred the water with their feete what might they looke for but soone after to fall into the deepe goulfe in which they shoulde be ouerwhelmed ▪ Therefore whereas they were not made afraide when they came to the riuer it selfe but that they kept on their way vnto the place that was appointed them it was a signe of singular good courage which they had conceiued of faith This was moreouer a peculiar temptation that the riuer Iordane had then ouerflowed his bankes as he vseth yearely to doe in the beginning of Summer For the plaine being couered with water the tracte of the bankes coulde not be knowen nor any shallowe be found and the waters being spread all abroade increased feare and carefulnesse And with these lettes would God haue his people and especially the priestes to striue that the victorie of their faith and constancie might be the more excellent and besides that by these difficulties he extolleth the glorie of the miracle when those waters gaue place at his commaundement and stoode as it were cloddered together on an heape which had before ouerflowed their bankes First therefore he setteth foorth the order of the miracle to take away all doubt least prophane and vnreligious men shoulde seeke out other causes to ouerwhelme the grace of god It may come to passe in deed naturally that for a short time the streame of waters may be stayed and some drie plotte may appeare or else the course of a riuer may be chaunged and turne it selfe an other way But that waters should stande still gathered together on an heape it coulde neuer come to passe naturally or by chaunce After this sort it is saide that the waters which before flowed out of an higher ground so that by their onely fall they sought a continuall course did now stand still not runne And there is no dout but this wonderfull sight was terrible to beholde that the Israelites might the rather acknowledge that they were saued in the middest of death For what other thing seemed that great heape of waters but euen as a graue to ouerwhelme the whole multitude if the waters had once runne downe according to their nature If they had walked vppon the waters faith shoulde haue bene in steede of a bridge vnto them But now while the mountaines of waters
of Gods worship but because the weakenesse of men must be aided with such healpes the better to prepare and stirre vp them selues to reuerence And euen as God by his presence doeth sanctifie those places in whiche he appeareth so I thinke that the excellencie of the lande of Chanaan is set foorth with this commendation that God had chosen himselfe a seate there in whiche he woulde be purely worshipped Wherevpon it is coÌ„monly called his test In the ende of the verse the obedience of Iosue is praised that the posteritie may learne to exercise godlinesse in that lande holily and deuoutly after his example So there seemeth to be a secrete comparison or opposition which doth extoll the lande of Chanaan aboue other regions Chap. 6. NOW Iericho was shut vp and closed because of the children of Israel none might goe out nor enter in 2 And the Lorde said vnto Ioshua Beholde I haue geuen into thine hande Iericho and the king thereof and the strong men of warre 3 All ye therefore that be men of warre shall compasse the citie in going round about the citie once thus shall you doe sixe dayes 4 And seuen Priestes shall beare seuen trumpets of Rammes hornes before the Arke and the seuenth day ye shall compasse the citie seuen times and the Priestes shall blowe with the trumpets 5 And when they make a long blast with the Rammes hornes and ye heare the sounde of the trumpet all the people shall shoute with a great shoute then shall the wall of the Citie fall downe flat and the people shall ascende vp euerie man streight before him 6 Then Ioshua the sonne of Nun called the Priestes and saide vnto them Take vp the Arke of the couenaunt and let seuen Priestes beare seuen trumpets of Rammes hornes before the Arke of the Lorde 7 But he saide vnto the people Goe and compasse the Citie and let him that is armed goe foorth before the Arke of the Lorde 8 And when Ioshua had spoken vnto the people the seuen Priestes bare the seuen trumpets of Rammes hornes and went foorth before the Arke of the Lorde and blewe with the trumpets and the Arke of the couenaunt of the Lorde followed them 9 And the men of armes went before the Priestes that blewe the trumpets then the gathering host came after the Arke as they went and blewe the trumpets 10 Now Ioshua had commaunded the people saying Yee shall not shoute neither make any noyse with your voyce neither shall a woorde proceede out of your mouth vntill the day that I say vnto you Shoute then shall all ye shoute 11 So the Arke of the Lorde compassed the citie and went about it once then they returned into the host and lodged in the campe 12 And Ioshua rose early in the morning and the Priestes bare the Arke of the Lorde 13 Also seuen Priestes bare seuen trumpets of Rams hornes and went before the Arke of the Lorde and going blewe with the trumpets and the men of armes went before them but the gathering host came after the Arke of the Lorde as they went and blewe the trumpets 14 And the seconde day they compassed the citie once and returned into the host thus they did sixe dayes 15 And when the seuenth day came they rose early euen with the dawning of the day and compassed the citie after the same maner seuen times onely that day they compassed the citie seuen times 16 And when the Priestes had blowen the trumpâ—â—s the seuenth time Ioshua saide vnto the people Shoute for the Lord hath geuen you the citie 17 And the citie shal be an execrable thing both it and all that are therein vnto the Lorde onely Rahab the harlot shall liue she and all that are with her in the house for she hid the messengers that we sent 18 Notwithstanding be ye warie of the execrable thing least ye make your selues execrable and in taking of the execrable thing make also the host of Israel execrable and trouble it 19 But all siluer and golde and vesselles of brasse and yron shal be consecrate vnto the Lorde and shall come into the Lordes treasurie 1 Iericho was shut c. He saith that Iericho was shut vp because the gates were not opened as in time of warre Cities are kept more diligently than at other times And for greater vehemencie he addeth that the gates were locked as if he shoulde say That the Citizens were diligent to keepe watche and warde least they shoulde be surprised vnawares So there was no way to take it except it were by violence of assault for by policie it coulde not be taken This setteth foorth the grace of God because along and painefull seege woulde haue wearied the children of Israel except present remedie had bene speedily shewed out of Heauen For in the meane time there was great danger least they being driuen into a narrowe corner might be consumed with famine and hunger because it was not possible to haue prouision of victualles in their enimies lande God therefore aideth them with an vnwoonted miracle that they shoulde not linger long at one Citie and ouerthrowing the walles maketh an open breache for them to enter that they might be the bolder to assault other Cities afterwarde Nowe we see how the two first verses agree together namely that Iericho was shut vp and so the children of Israel were kept out from entering thereinto and that God promised that he would take the Citie by assault himselfe for that by this meanes he woulde preuent them that they shoulde not trouble themselues by doubtfull deliberation To be short God prouideth by this so happie beginning so easie victorie that their heartes shoulde not faint in time to come In the meane time we may note the brutish dullnesse of that people which thought that their walles and gates were able to resist the power of God as though it were an harder matter to breake and dissolue a fewe boordes and stones than to drie vp the waters of Iordan 3 You shall compasse c. The promise in deede of it selfe was sufficient and of force to make them hope for victorie but the maner of the doing whiche was appointed seemed so ridiculous that it tooke away the credit of the promise God commaundeth that they shoulde compasse the Citie rounde about euery day vntill the seuenth day and that day he biddeth them to compasse it seuen times to blowe the trumpets and to shout all whiche was nothing else but to play like children But it was a goodly matter that their faith was proued by this triall that while in the thing it selfe they sawe nothing but a deceiuing of their hope yet they might neuerthelesse stay themselues in the oracle of God for which purpose he doth often hide his power for a season vnder infirmitie and seemeth to play with vaine trifles that at the length his weakenes may appeare stronger than all power and his foolishnes may shine aboue all wisdome So when the Israelites bidding
seuenth lotte came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families 41 And the coast of their inheritance was Zorah and Eshtaol and Ir-shemesh 42 And Shaalabim and Aiialon and Ithlah 43 And Elon and Themnathah and Ekron 44 And Eltekeh and Gibbethon and Baalah 45 And Iehud and Bene-berak and Gathrimmon 46 And Me-iarkon and Rakkon with the border that lieth before Iapho 47 But the coastes of the children of Dan fell out too little for them therefore the children of Dan went vp to fight against Leshem and tooke it and smote it with the edge of the sword and possessed it and dwelt therein and called Leshem Dan after the name of Dan their father 48 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families that is these cities and their villages 49 When they had made an end of diuiding the land by the coastes thereof then the children of Israel gaue an inheritance vnto Ioshue the sonne of Nun among them 50 According to the worde of the Lorde they gaue him the citie which he asked euen Timnath-serah in mount Ephraim he builte the citie and dwelt therein 51 These are the heritages which Eleazar the Priest and Ioshue the sonne of Nun and the chiefe fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel diuided by lot in Shiloh before the Lorde at the dore of the tabernacle of the congregation so they made an end of diuiding the countrie Now he intreateth of the lotte of Nepthalie which seemeth to agree with the natures and manners of that tribe For Iacob had testified that they should be gentle vse faire speech to their neighboures After this manner it seemeth that of the one parte they ioyned vppon the children of Iuda and in other partes were compassâ—d about with the defence of their brethren Surely when it is said that the tribe of Dan tooke Lesen by assault there seemeth to be a secret comparison because the children of Nepthalie did not thrust into their inheritance by force of armes but kept themselues quietly in a peaceable prouince and so vnder the fidelitie and as it were the protection of the tribe of Iuda they were safe and at rest But where it is saide that the children of Dan challenged by force of armes the possession of the citie Lesen which was assigned them by God it happened after the death of Iosue But here is breefly and by the way enterlaced that historie which is set foorth more at large in the booke of Iudges for their valiantnesse was worthie of praise so to embrace the right graunted to them by God that trusting in him they went foorth manfully to chase away their enimies 49 When they had made an end c. Now at the length here is rehearsed the thankfulnesse of the people towarde Iosue Aâ—hough there ought to be an equall partition of the land of Chanaan among the posteritie of Abraham yet Iosue through the excellencie of his vertues deserued some honourable reward aboue the rest Neither could any man complaine that one man was enriched by the losse of many for first by his long staying shineth foorth the modestie of the holie man that he prouideth not for his priuate wealth before the publike state was well set in order For where shall you finde a man which after he hath declared one or two tokens of his manhood will not streight way make haâ—te to be partaker of the prey But Iosue did not so which thinketh not of him selfe vntill all the lande be diuided Also in the verie reward it selfe which he obteined the same temperaunce and frugalitie is seene He desireth a citie to be graunted to him and his familie which was indeed but a â—eape of stones for either it was destroyed and defaced with ruines or else there was no citie at all builded there But the coniecture may be likelie that to the intent his reward might be without enuie he required some such plot as was not verie wealthie If any man thinke it an absurditie that he bestowed not his labour freely let him consider that he obeyed the calling of God most liberally and freely and that he did not take so great trauell to indure so many dangers and troubles with the affection of an hireling But when he had executed his office willingly he was not to refuse a monument of the grace of God vnlesse with peruerse froward contempt he would haue ouerwhelmed his glorie For that prerogatiue which was offered vnto him was nothing else but a plaine testimonie of that heuenlie power which was shewed forth by his hand Neither can any ambition be here noted because he desireth nothing for him selfe nor rashely thrusteth in his couetous appetite but requireth to haue that honour which God had alredie bestowed vppon him to be confirmed by the consent of the people Yea if he had held his peace he had geuen a signe of slouthfulnes rather than of modestie Where as it is rehearsed in the end of the Chapter that Iosue and Eleazer made an end of distributing the lande it perteineth to a perpetuall Lawe of determination of their boundes that the children of Israel should stirre or moue nothing to weaken or deface that vnchaungeable decree of God. Chap. 20. THE Lorde also spake vnto Ioshue saying 2 Speake to the children of Israel and say Appoint you cities of refuge whereof I spake vnto you by the hand of Moses 3 That the slayer that killeth any person by ignorance and vnwittingly may flee thither and they shall be your refuge from the auenger of bloud 4 And he that doeth flee vnto one of those cities shall stand at the entring of the gate of the citie and shall shewe his cause to the Elders of the citie and they shall receiue him into the citie vnto them and giue him a place that he may dwell with them 5 And if the auenger of bloud pursue after him they shall not deliuer the slaier into his hand because he smote his neighbour ignorantly neither hated he him before time 6 But he shall dwell in that citie vntill he stand before the Congregation in iudgment or vntill the death of the high Priest that shal be in those dayes then shall the slaier returne and come vnto his owne citie and vnto his owne house euen vnto the citie from whence he fled 7 Then they appointed Kedesh in Galil in mount Nephtali and Sechem in mount Ephraim and Kiriath-arba which is Hebron in the mountaine of Iudah 8 And on the other side Iordan towarde Iericho Eastwarde they appointed Bezer in the wildernesse vpon the plaine out of the tribe of Ruben and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh 9 These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel and for the straunger that soiourned among them that whosoeuer killed any person ignorantly might flee thither and not dye by the hand of the