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
are at Kiriath baal which is Kiriath-iearim a citie of the children of Iudah this is the Westquarter 15 And the Southquarter is from the end of Kiriath-iearim and this border goeth out Westward commeth to the fountaine of waters of Nephtoah 16 And this border descendeth at the end of the mountaine that lieth before the vallie of Ben-hinnom which is in the vallie of the Giantes Northward and descendeth into the vallie of Hinnom by the side of Iebusi Southward and goeth downe to Enrogel 17 And compasseth from the North and goeth forth to Enshemesh and stretcheth to Geliloth which is toward the going vp vnto Adummim and goeth downe to the stone of Bohan the sonne of Ruben 18 So it goeth along to the side ouer against the plaine Northward and goeth downe into the plaine 19 After this border goeth along to the side of Beth-hoglah Northward and the ends thereof that is of the border reache to the point of the salt Sea Northward and to the end of Iordan Southward this is the Southcoast 20 Also Iordan is the border of it on the Eastside this is the inheritance of the children of Beniamin by the coastes thereof round about according to their families 21 Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Beniamin according to their families are Iericho and Beth-hoglah and the vallie of Keziz 22 And Beth-arabah and Zemaraim and Beth-el 23 And Auim and Parah and Ophrah 24 And Chephar Ammonai and Ophni and Gaba twelue cities with their villages 25 Gibeon and Ramah and Bee roth 26 And Mizpeh and Chephirah and Mozah 27 And Rekem and Irpeel and Taralah 28 And Zela Eleph Iebusi which is Hierusalem Gibeath and Kiriath fourteene cities with their villages this is the inheritance of the children of Beniamin according to their families In the lot of Beniamin there falleth out nothing greatly needfull to be noted but that it being a litle tribe is preferred before others I confesse indeed that in respect of the fewnesse of the people it was shutte vp within narrowe borders for it obteined but sixe and twentie cities yet was this an honourable thing of it selfe to receiue their inheritaunce before other more populous tribes Adde herevnto that by this meanes they were made neighbours borderers vpon the sonnes of Ioseph with whom they were next of kin For they were placed in the middest betweene Ephraim and Manasse on the one parte and the tribe of Iuda on the other parte This was also a singular honour that among other cities Hierusalem also fell to their lot so that afterward they might graunt it as it were by licence to the sonnes of Iuda to be the seate of the kingdome But seeing they obteined so quiet a dwelling place it is meruell they lead not a quiet life in all humanitie and gentlenesse with their neighbors But we remember the prophesie of Iacob Beniamin is a rauening wolfe In the morning he shall rauish the prey at euen he shall diuide the spoile Wherefore it seemeth that either they were too couetous seditious by naturâ— or else they were driuen by some necessitie which at this day is vnknowne to vs to geue them selues to spoyling As touching the citie Luz the other name is added This is Bethel because that name which was geuen to it by the Patriarch Iacob was there receiued in vse and custome Not farre off was Beth-auen whose name because it was infamous and reprochfull was translated to Bethel her selfe after it was corrupted and defiled with vngodly superstitions It is like that Kiriath-baal was called Kiriath-ieharim that the name of the idol might be taken away which had bene a spotte in true godlinesse if it had remained And surely it had bene a foule and shamefull thing that such a patrone as was enimie to the onely GOD should haue bene spoken of in the peoples mouth Chap. 19. AND the second lot came out to Simeon euen for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families and their inheritance was in the middest of the inheritance of the children of Iudah 2 Nowe they had in their inheritance Beersheba and Sheba and Moladah 3 And Hazar-shual and Balah and Azem 4 And Eltolad and Bethul and Hormah 5 And Ziklag and Beth-marcaboth and Hazar-susah 6 And Bethlebaoth and Sharuben thirteene cities with their villages 7 Ain Emmon and Ether and Ashan foure cities with their villages 8 And all the villages that were round about these cities vnto Baalath-beer and Ramath Southward this is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families 9 Out of the portion of the children of Iudah came the inheritance of the children of Simeon for the parte of the children of Iudah was too much for them therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within their inheritance Next followeth the tribe of Simeon not so much for honours sake as for a note of reproch Iacob had pronounced of Simeon and Leui I will disperse them scatter them In deede the penaltie of Leui was not onely mitigated but also turned into an excellent dignitie because his posteritie were placed as it were in a watch-towre to keepe the people in their duetie of godlinesse and religion But as touching Simeon that certeine cities were geuen to his posteritie within the borders of Iuda this was a manifest dispersion whereof Iacob had prophesied Although they were not cast a sunder into places farre distant yet were they but as tenantes and dispersed when they dwelled within the soyle of an other tribe Therefore for that slaughter which they committed with no lesse vnfaithfulnesse than crueltie they were separated into diuers lodgings By this meanes the offence of their father was cast into the bosome of his sonnes and that sentence which God deliuered to his seruant he did execute indeede Also the trueth of the lotte was clerely approued But whereas a portion is taken away from the tribe of Iuda we se againe that although the ouerseers of the diuision determined most wisely to keepe equitie yet they were deceiued with an errour which they were not ashamed to correct as soone as it was found out And it is no absurditie that although they were ruled by the spirit of God yet they were deceiued in some parte because God sometimes withdraweth from his seruantes the spirit of iudgement and suffereth them to doe one thing or other like men that they should not triumph too much in their exceeding great wisedome Adde herevnto that the people were iustly punished for their negligence and carelesse hastinesse because they should from the beginning haue better discussed what right belonged to euerie one which thing they neglected A large dominion was vnskilfully assigned without discretion vnto the tribe of Iudah whereof equitie constrained them afterward to appoint some part for other tribes Howbeit it had ben better that their certeine limits had bene set downe at the first than afterward to haue some
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
which he seemed to haue spoken clerely enough nowe he prosecuteth more distinctly not onely that the reading thereof might prouoke the people to geue thankes while the benefite of God shal be registred in the publike monumentes and as it were conuersant before their eyes but also that euerie one might enioy their inheritaunce without trouble or strife We knowe how wittie the couetousnesse of men is to inuent pretenses of going to lawe that no mans right might remaine quietly vnto him except a cleere and perfect definition of euerie mans right should take away all controuersies That region was geuen them without lot The rest might haue obiected because euen measure was not kept that inequalitie must be corrected Therefore that no vntimely strife shoulde euer trouble their peace the boundes are set in all places by Gods authoritie and as it were hedged in to cutte away all contentions For God doeth not onely by one worde adiudge the whole kingdome of Sihon to the tribe of Ruben but draweth the vttermost border from Aroer to the riuer Arnon and so in all the compasse doth either restraine them or enlarge them that the possession of one acre should not be in doubt And howe profitable so exact a description was we may knowe by prophane histories where often times we may see not onely hatefull but also hurtfull contentions haue arisen betweene neighbours about their marches Moreouer this diligence which God disdained not to vse to prouide for his people that they might continue in peace one with another doth verily declare his fatherly loue because he omitted nothing that might be profitable for their quietnesse And surely if prouision had not beene made in time they would haue bene consumed by ciuil and intestine contentions Once againe I would haue the readers excuse me if I labour not carefully in describing the situation of the cities am not curious in the names Yea I could well abide that some names shuld be taken appellatiuely and so translated which otherwise I haue thought good to leaue in their owne tongue as proper names This is worthie to be noted that where he speaketh of the land of the Madianites the Princes which ruled there are called the Dukes of Sihon that we may knowe that they were partakers of the same calamitie because they intangled them selues with vniust warre and perteined to the gouernement of Sihon which was a professed enimie And that it may better appeare that they were iustly destroyed Balaam is said to haue bene slaine amongst them by whose tongue they laboured to wound the Israelites more greeuously than with a thousand swordes as if it were saide In the verie slaughter there was found a banner of hostilitie by which they professed that they serued in warre against the Israelites Where it is said in the Hebrue that Iordan was the end the end that the repetition may not seeme to be in vaine we may aptly translate it that Iordan according to his â—oundes was their border 24 Moses gaue to the tribe of Gad c. The same reason is to be obserued in the tribe of Gad that it is hedged in with lawfull boundes that their possessions shoulde not be litigious or subiect to contention In the meane time the liberalitie of God is commended that he draue out nations of great renowme in whose roome he had placed them which is more clearely expressed in the halfe tribe of Manasse while in the portion of their inheritance there are rehearsed three score cities Whereby also it is made manifest that Moses was not deceiued in his liberalitie because God was not ignorant how manie cities according to his bountifull largesse he would geue them In the conclusion the tribe of Leui is againe excluded least the Leuites in time to come should pretende that the land which was graunted to the Gadites and Rubenites the halfe tribe of Manasses without casting of lotts was common to them also because they were by name forbidden to cast lottes with their brethren which they might easily haue expounded subtily for their owne aduantage that their part was left them in the other landes But now the sacrifices are not called their inheritance as a while before they were but God himselfe with whom if they be not content they bewray too greate pride and intollerable disdainefulnesse Chap. 14. THese also are the places whiche the children of Israel inherited in the lande of Chanaan whiche Eleazer the Priest and Ioshue the sonne of Nun and the cheefe fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel distributed to them 2 By the lot of their inheritance as the Lorde had commanded by the hande of Moses to geue to the nine tribes and the halfe tribe 3 For Moses had geuen inheritaunce vnto two tribes and an halfe tribe beyonde Iordan but vnto the Leuites he gaue none inheritaunce among them 4 For the children of Ioseph were two tribes Manasseh and Ephraim therefore they gaue no parte vnto the Leuites in the lande saue cities to dwell in with the suburbes of the same for their beastes and their substance 5 As the Lorde had commaunded Moses so the children of Israel did when they diuided the lande 6 Then the children of Iudah came vnto Ioshue in Gilgal and Caleb the sonne of Iephunneh the Kenezite saide vnto him Thou knowest what the Lorde said vnto Moses the man of God concerning me and thee in Kadesh-barnea 7 Fourtie yeares olde was I when Moses the seruant of the Lorde sent me from Kadesh-barnea to espie the land and I brought him worde againe as I thought in mine heart 8 But my brethren that went vp with me discouraged the heart of the people yet I followed still the Lorde my God. 9 Wherefore Moses sware the same day saying Certeinly the land whereon thy feete haue troden shall be thine inheritance and thy childrens for euer because thou hast followed constantly the Lorde my God. 10 Therefore beholde now the Lorde hath kept me aliue as he promised this is the fourtie and fift yeare since the Lorde spake this thing vnto Moses while the children of Israel wandered in the wildernesse and now loe I am this day foure score and fiue yeares olde 11 And yet am as strong at this time as I was when Moses sent me as strong as I was then so strong am I now either for warre or for gouernement 12 Now therefore giue me this mountaine whereof the Lord spake in that day for thou heardest in that day how the Anakims were there and the cities great and walled if so be the Lorde will be with me that I may driue them out as the Lorde saide 13 Then Ioshue blessed him and gaue vnto Caleb the sonne of Iephunneh Hebron for an inheritance 14 Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb the sonne of Iephunneh the Kenezite vnto this day because he followed constantly the Lord God of Israel 15 And the name of Hebron was before time Kiriath-arba which Arba was a great
knot is not yet altogether loosed because he is expresly appointed Lorde of that citie But if we consider that onely a right of dwelling was graunted to the Leuits in those cities there shall be no repugnance In the meane time the modestie of Caleb is worthie of no small praise which in that portion which by extraordinarie priuilege was graunted to him did not refuse to entertaine the Leuites Chap. 15. THis then was the lot of the tribe of the children of Iudah by their families euen to the border of Edom and the wildernesse of Zin Southward on the Southcoast 2 And their Southborder was the salt Sea coast from the point that loketh Southward 3 And it went out on the South-side toward Maaleth-akrabbim and went along to Zin and ascended vp on the Southside vnto Kadesh-barnea and went along to Hezron and went vp to Adar and fet a compasse to Karkaa 4 From thence went it along to Azmon and reached vnto the riuer of Aegypt and the end of that coast was on the West-side this shal be your Southcoast 5 Also the East border shal be the salt Sea vnto the end of Iordan and the border on the North quarter from the point of the Sea and from the end of Iordan 6 And this border goeth vp to Beth-hogla and goeth along by the Northside of Beth-arabah so the border from thence goeth vp to the stone of Bohan the sonne of Ruben 7 Againe this border goeth vp to Debir from the vallie of Achor and Northwarde turning toward Gilgal that lieth before the going vp to Adummim which is on the Southside of the riuer also this border goeth vp to the waters of Enshemesh and endeth at En-rogel 8 Then this border goeth vp to the vallie of the sonne of Hinnom on the Southside of the Iebusites the same is Hierusalem also this border goeth vp to the top of the mountaine that lieth before the vallie of Hinnom Westward which is by the end of the vallie of the Giantes Northward 9 So this border compasseth from the top of the mountaine vnto the fountaine of the water of Nephtoah and goeth out to the cities of mount Ephron and this border draweth to Baalah which is Kiriath-iearim 10 Then this border compasseth from Baalah Westward vnto mount Seir and goeth along vnto the side of mount Iearim which is Chesalon on the Northside so it commeth downe to Beth-shemesh and goeth to Timnah 11 Also this border goeth out vnto the side of Ekron Northward and this border draweth to Shiâ—ron and goeth along to mount Baalah and stretcheth vnto Iabneel and the ends of this coast are to the Sea. 12 And the West border is to the great Sea so this border shal be the bounds of the children of Iudah round about according to their families 13 And vnto Caleb the sonne of Iephunneh did Ioshue giue a parte among the children of Iudah as the Lorde commanded him euen Kiriath-arbah of the father of Anak which is Hebron 1 And the lot c. I haue shewed before that in setting out the situation of the places searching out the reason of their names I would not be curious partly because I confesse that I am not so exercised in the knowlege of Topographie or Chorographie partly because of great laboure bestowed therein small fruite would come to the readers Yea peraduenture the greatest parte of men should take paine without any profite But to the purpose we must note that the lot of the tribe of Iuda doeth not onely fall in a high place that the verie hight of the region might commend the dignitie of the kingdome that should be therein but because the name of that tribe doeth first come forth as a foreshewing of the same matter They beginne to diuide that which was alredie conquered by warre The names of the tenne tribes are cast into a potte Iuda is preferred before all the rest Who seeth not that he is lifted vp into the highest degree that the prophesie of Iacob might be fulfilled Now within these boundes which are here set downe it is well knowen that there were goodly pastures noble and fruitefull vines Thus when the lot doeth answere to the prophesie of Iacob it is manifest that it fell not by chaunce and that the holie Patriarch did pronounce that which was deliuered to him by the spirit of god They that are skilfull of the places may with more pleasure and profite inquire more of them But that the ruder sorte be not greeued to reade vnknowne names let them thinke that it is well worth their laboure if they doe remember that short summe which I haue touched namely that the tribe of Iuda is lifted vp on high that it may be seene alofte aboue the rest vntill the scepter doe arise from thence and secondly that a region fruitfull of vines and pastures is assigned to him moreouer that all the people might acknowledge that his loe fell not by chaunce which was foreshewed three hundred yeres before Furthermore of the large and manifold compasse of the places the vnlearned sorte may easily gather that it was a great prouince which was assigned by lot to that one tribe For although some diminution happened afterward yet they had alwaies the largest dominion And we must remember that which I said that nothing else was declared by the lot but that the border of the sonnes of Iuda ioyned vppon the land of Edom and the sonnes of Sin and that on the other side they bordered vpon the brooke of Egypt and vppon the Midland sea but they that were chosen to be diuiders as their iudgement serued them according to the multitude of men did measure out how great their portion should be did not enlarge their boundes further the same reason they followed in the rest as the neerenesse of the places required Neither did the errour which they committed any thing hinder but that which they decreed remained stedfast For as they were not ashamed in parte to retracte that portion which they had made vnaduisedly so on the other side when the people did see that they handled the matter with all faithfulnesse and vpright dealing they did willingly submit them selues to their decree neither did a particular errour let a generall action from being confirmed ratified It shall not be amisse in one worde to touch the citie of Iebus which afterward was called Hierusalem Although it was alreadie by the secreat counsell of God chosen to be his Sanctuarie and the seate of the kingdome which should be there yet it was possessed of the enimies vntill the time of Dauid For in that they were so long depriued of that place in which was grounded the holinesse excellencie and beautie of all the lande beside therein appeared plainly the curse of God to punish the slouthfulnesse of the people For it was as much as if the cheefe and principall ornament and dignitie of the land were taken away from them But on the other parte did shine
had his part doubled This is out of doubt that Gilead the sonne of Machir which was the great grandfather to these women of whom we speake did choose his seate in the mount Gilead Basan Therefore seeing he had by priuiledge without casting of lottes obteined an inheritance alreadie he ought not to cast lots in the land of Chanaan except peraduenture he placed but halfe his familie beyond Iordan For Hepher was one of his sonnes but not his only sonne like as the issue of the other fiue brethren might be diuided into more heades according to which number the diuision was made For we cannot tell in what degree the families were taken vnto whom their portion fell out in the land of Chanaan And we reade none other thing here but that tenne lottes were cast among the sonnes of Manasse beside that region which they had obteined before beyond Iordan Therefore it is in vaine to contend about the number the certeintie whereof wee can not gather out of this present historie for this before all things must be obserued vnto how many families the partition was made cōmon And it may be that the daughters of Selophehad had their patrimonie geuen them there For they are saide in deede to haue dwelled among their fathers brethren but the place is not assigned where Howsoeuer it is I doubt not but a mutuall equalitie was obserued that seing the rest were prouided for beyond Iordan they diuided the land that was subiect to casting of lots into ten families whose names are not here rehearsed 11 And Manasseh had in Issachar and in Asher Beth-shean and her townes and Ibleam and her townes and the inhabitantes of Dor with the townes thereof and the inhabitantes of En-dor with the townes thereof and the inhabitantes of Thaanach with her townes and the inhabitantes of Megiddo with the townes of the same euen three countries 12 Yet the children of Manasseh could not destroy those cities but the Chanaanites dwelled still in that land 13 Neuerthelesse when the children of Israel were strong they put the Chanaanites vnder tribute but cast them not out wholy 14 Then the children of Ioseph spake vnto Ioshue saying Why hast thou geuen me but one lot and one portion to inherite seeing I am a greate people for asmuch as the Lorde hath blessed me hitherto 15 Ioshue then answeared them If thou be much people get thee vp to the wood and cut trees for thy selfe there in the lande of the Perizzites and of the Giantes if mount Ephraim be too narrowe for thee 16 Then the children of Ioseph said The mountaine will not be enough for vs and all the Chanaanites that dwell in the lowe countrie haue charriots of yron as well they in Beth-shean and in the townes of the same as they in the vallie of Izreel 17 And Ioshue spake vnto the house of Ioseph to Ephraim and to Manasseh saying Thou art a great people and hast great power and shalt not haue one lot 18 Therefore the mountaine shal be thine for it is a wood and thou shalt cut it downe and the endes of it shal be thine thou shalt cast out the Chanaanites though they haue yron chariots and though they be strong 11 And Manasseh c. It is not easie to gather how they were so mingled that they possessed certeine cities in the lot of Aser and Izachar when the tribe of Ephraim dwelt within their borders except peraduenture it was so prouided lest a more commodious kind of dwelling shoulde haue bene subiect to many quarelles and complaintes or else perhapps as the whole region was afterward better knowen some thing was chaunged in the former partition according to the rule of equitie Therefore this seemeth to be a new addition while it was knowen that the children of Manasse might be enlarged without the losse of the other Neither was there geuen them a peaceable possession which they might presently enioy but their inheritaunce was layed vp vnder hope that they might rest rather in the heauenlie promise than in the earthlie possession Yet that they obteined not those cities it is imputed to their owne fault for the lot was to them an vndoubted pledge of victorie Therefore they could not driue out the inhabitantes because they were not persuaded in their hearts that God was true of his promise and so they stopped the course of Gods power through their own slouthfulnes But the other fault was lesse tollerable when they might easily haue destroyed them all they were not onely slouthfull in executing the commaundement of God but being moued with filthie lucre they saued those aliue whom GOD had appointed to be destroyed For those whom we charge with tribute we doe in a manner receiue them vnder our tuition and protection God had appointed them to be ministers of his vengeaunce he had geuen them strength enough to execute the same but they were not onely slacke therein but also depriued them selues of libertie to doe well Therefore it is no meruell if God seuerely reuenged their so froward slouthfulnesse that those nations whom they had pardoned contrarie to the manifest prohibition of God shoulde bee come prickes to be thrust into their eyes and goades to digge in their sides Also here ariseth a question how they had cities graunted to them in the tribes of Aser and Izachar when both their portions was yet vnknowen Therefore by anticipation that is rehearsed which was not yet fulfilled Howsoeuer it be we gather that because of the ignorance of the places euerie parte was not so exactly diuided at the first but that it was needefull more or lesse to correct that which was first set downe And geuerally we must take it so of the tribe of Ephraim and the rest that many cities which they obteined were so wasted that they serued them to no vse Wherefore I doubt not but many ruines are here buried And then it is to be thought that where base townes were through the fruitefulnesse of the soile and other commodities noble cities were builded For surely Sichem was of sufficient renowne to haue had a name and a degree yet there is no mention of it here like as there is not also of Samaria which being the Metropolitane citie of the kingdome of Israel perteineth to the same tribe of Ephraim as it is well knowne Therefore it is manifest that many cities were possessed in euerie tribe whereof here is no mention at all 14 And the children of Ioseph c. Although they set a faire colour of excuse for their complaint yet they dissemble amisse that no more was comprehended in one lot than serued for one tribe Yet I can not tell whether the lot was cast confusedly for the sonnes of Ioseph and surely it seemeth against reason that it should be so Iosue was not ignorant nor yet the other ouerseers of the diuiūon that Ephraim and Manasse made two heads or two stockes and it hath bene often saide before that the lande was
diuided into tenne tribes which number could not stand except they discerned the tribe of Manasse from the tribe of Ephraim Therefore it is certeine that they were not deceiued with so grosse an errour that they would cast two names vppon one lot For it had bene intollerable vnrighteousnesse to bide two tribes vnder the name of Ioseph that they might defraud them of the one halfe of their right Aâ—de herevnto that the portion of either of them was before distinctly described and set foorth with their seuerall boundes Therefore reason leadeth vs rather to this opinion When the lottes were cast vppon two tribes it came to passe by the wonderfull counsell of God that these brethren which had one father should be neighbours and lie both together therefore they doe vniustly find fault that they haue but one inheritaunce geuen them because neither was the negligence of Iosue so gâ—eate nor his minde so malignant that either for lacke of consideration or through enuie he would defraud them of their cleere and manifest right but hereof did arise this false complaint of the scantnesse of their landes because they made none accompte of all that grounde which was yet to be conquered by prowesse of warre as though the lott had placed all the other tribes beside in a peaceable foile And therefore Iosue with one worde doeth confute and discusse all their contention and quareling and turneth vppon their owne heades that crime whereby they assaied to make him to be enuied If ye haue such store of men saith he and so great a multitude why doe you not fall vppon your enimies whose region is geuen vnto you â–ª For if ye doe valiantly enter into the inheritaunce graunted to you by God trusting in his promise the successe shall not deceiue you We see that although they were wel prouided for yet they are blinded with their own slouthfulnes so that they complaine that they are pinned in with streightes because they would not moue their little finger to seeke the effect of their lot to haue larger roome Wherefore this place doeth teach vs if we thinke at any time that lesse is performed vnto vs than ought to be that we must diligently search ouâ— all lettes that we doe not rashly cast vppon others the fault that resteth in our selues 16 To whom they made answere c. It appeareth that they were too much addicted to them selues because they drawe backe as much as they ran that they might not geue place to the reason propounded by Iosue thâ—n the which yet nothing wâ—â— more indâ—â—ferent They obiect that the hill was vnfruitefull and as it was 〈◊〉 deserte so that if any thing were added they should feele small profite thereof As touching the plaine which was well occupied and fruitfull they obiect that they are shut out from it kept out of it through the terrible forces of their enimies Therefore they make mention of yron charriots as though they had neuer tried before that God could easily ouerthrowe as well the charriots as the horsemen But Iosue with a plaine and wise answere doeth well reproue both their couetousnesse and their delicacie slouthfulnesse If the forest saith he at this time be not fruitfull enough thou maist cuâ— downe the trees and make thee goodly feeldes so that if thou woulâ—est not spare thy laboure this dwelling which thou haste woulde serue thy turne well enough And as for yron charriots shall not let but God may performe that which he hath promised The inheritaunce is thine onely enter vppon it with such boldenesse as becommeth thee Chap. 18. AND the whole Congregation of the children of Israel came together at Shiloh for they set vp the Tabernacle of the Congregation there after the lande was subiect vnto them 2 Nowe there remained among the children of Israel seuen tribes to whome they had not diuided their inheritance 3 Therefore Ioshue saide vnto the children of Israel Howe long are ye so slacke to enter and possesse the land which the Lord God of your fathers hath geuen you 4 Giue from among you for euerie tribe three men that I may send them and that they may rise and walke through the land and distribute it according to their inheritance and returne to me 5 And that they may diuide it vnto them into seuen partes Iudah shall abide in his coast at the South and the house of Ioseph shall stand in their coastes at the North. 6 Ye shall describe the land therefore into seuen partes and shall bring them hither to me and I will cast lottes for you here before the Lorde our God. 7 But the Leuites shall haue no part among you for the Priesthoode of the Lord is their inheritance also Gad and Ruben and halfe the tribe of Manasseh haue receiued their inheritance beyond Iordan Eastward which Moses the seruant of the Lorde gaue them 8 Then the men arose and went their way and Ioshue charged them that went to describe the land saying Departe and goe through the land and describe it and returne to me that I may here cast lottes for you before the Lorde in Shiloh 9 So the men departed and passed through the land and described it by cities into seuen partes in a booke and returned to Ioshue into the campe at Shiloh 10 Then Ioshue cast lottes for them in Shiloh before the Lorde and there Ioshue diuided the land vnto the children of Israel according to their portions 1 And all the multitude c. Here is reported that solemne assemblie which was held at Silo where consultation was had for casting of the rest of the lottes For although they beganne to cast lottes of a godlie zeale yet that action was interrupted although the victorie ought to haue gone before the diuision which depended vppon the onely mouth of god Wherefore they come together in Silo to decree what was needfull to be done in time to come And there is no doubt but Iosue called this assemblie that he might shake away from them their slouthfulnesse For they vtter nothing of their owne accorde but he beginneth to chide them that they were slacke and slowe to enter vppon the inheritaunce which God him selfe had geuen them For we may gather by his speach that in the beginning they were full of cheerfulnesse but there followed no perseuerance And yet that obedience was adorned with the commendation of the holy Ghost which soone after vanished away And we must note that the people is reprehended not for that they were negligent in casting of lottes but because they did not possesse the inheritance which was offered to them by god And surely as the casting of lottes was a signe of some faith so that region which fell to euerie one of them was a sure and faithfull pledge of that possession which afterward they should haue for God did not trifle and plaie when he assigned to euerie one their portion The verbe RAPHAH which I haue translated To cease doeth signifie also To be
part taken away with their griefe Moreouer euerie one presumed with vaine hope that they shoulde haue large wide possessions as though the land had stretched forth it self without end 9 Of the portion of the sonnes of Iuda c. Yet the moderation and indifferencie of the tribe of Iuda is worthie of praise which doeth not striue nor alledge that it is against right that any thing should be taken away from them of the portion that was once assigned vnto them For they might haue pretended the name of God by whose authoritie they had obteined that seate But because it is decreed by the common iudgement of all men that more was geuen them than they might possesse without the losse iniurie of other men they doe immediately cease from all pretence of striuing And surely they should haue falsly and vniustly boasted of the name of God for that although the lotte proceeded from him as concerning the region and quarter yet in the largenesse thereof there fell out an errour because their boundes were enlarged by the iudgement of men more than they ought to haue beene Therefore that which they acknowledge was geueâ— aâ—isse to them with the losse of other men they doe willingly forgoe and gently enterteine their brethren which otherwise should haue wanted an inheritance yea they are content to parte with them that whiche they thought without controuersie to haue bene their owne already 10 Also the third lot arose for the children of Zebulun according to their families and the coastes of their inheritance came to Sarid 11 And their border goeth vp Westward euen to Maralah and reacheth to Dabasheh and meeteth with the riuer that lieth before Iokneam 12 And turneth from Sarid Eastward toward the Sunne rising vnto the border of Chisloth-tabor and goeth out to Daberath and ascendeth to Iaphia 13 And from thence goeth along Eastward toward the Sunne rising to Gittah-hepher to Ittah-kazin and goeth forth to Rimmon and turneth to Neah 14 And this border compasseth it on the Northside to Hannathon and the endes thereof are in the vallie of Iipthtahel 15 And Kattath and Nahallal and Shimron and Idalah and Beth-lehem twelue cities with their villages 16 This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families that is these cities and their villages 17 The fourth lot came out to Issachar euen for the children of Issachar according to their families 18 And their coast was Izreelah and Chesulloth and Shunem 19 And Ephraim and Shion and Anaharah 20 And Harrabith and Kishion and Abez 21 And Remeth and En-gannim and En-haddah and Beth-pazzez 22 And this coast reacheth to Tabor and Shahazimah and Beth-shemesh and the endes of their coast reache to Iordan sixteene cities with their villages 23 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar according to their families that is the cities and their villages 24 Also the fifte lotte came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families 25 And their coast was Heleath and Halie and Beten and Achshah 26 And Alammelech and Amad and Misheal and came to Carmel Westwarde and to Shihor-libnah 27 And turneth toward the Sunne rising to Beth-dagon and commeth to Zebulun and to the vallie of Iptah-el toward the Northside of Beth-emek and Neiel and goeth out on the left side of Cabul 28 And to Ebron and Rehob and Hammon and Kanah vnto great Zidon 29 Then the coast turneth to Ramah and to the strong citie of Zor and his border turneth to Hosah and the endes thereof are at the Sea from Hebel to Aczib 30 Vmmah also and Aphek and Rehob two and twentie cities with their villages 31 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families that is these cities and their villages 10 And the third lotte c. In the lotte of Zabulon appeareth the plaine trueth of the prophesie of Iacob which foreshewed that they should dwell about the Sea coast The olde man the vanished man whiche coulde not set his foote in his owne ground did assigne the region by the Sea coast to the posteritie of his sonne Zabulon What seemeth more ridiculous But nowe when the lotte assigneth to them the region by the Sea side there could not be required a more cleere approbation of that sentence as if God had twise thundered out of heauen Therefore the tribe of Zabulon obteineth not the Sea coast by their owne choyce nor by the appointment of men but the region adioyning to the Sea was by God himselfe adiudged to be their inheritance So that although men erred yet the light always shined in the darkenesse Iacob proceedeth further and maketh a notable difference beetweene Zabulon and Isachar namely that the former tribe shoulde trauell to and fro with merchandize the other shoulde sitte quietly and leade their liues in their tentes Therefore it is like that the Sea coast where Zabulon dwelled was full of hauens and apte for manifolde trafique But the sonnes of Isachar conteyning themselues in the profites fruites of their lands liued of their labour and tillage They that are thought to be skilfull in those regions affirme that the land of the tribe of Aser was a great corne countrie which answeareth with greate consent and agreement vnto the prophesie of Iacob That so small a number of cities is here expressed we may gather againe that there were many ruinous places which came not in accompt but after the people were well setled many goodly cities were built on them with which the land was garnished as it is manifest out of other places And surely it appeareth that the sum of the diuision is breefly touched so many things are omitted which it is lawful to search out so it be not with curiositie that is without profit Surely they which haue here but twentie or seuenteene cities rehearsed had a larger dominion Therefore here is onely rehearsed the abridgement of the diuision such as is like to be taken out of the shorte billes of the messengers which were written in hast 32 The sixt lot came out to the children of Napthalie euen to the children of Napthalie according to their families 33 And their coast was from Heleph from Allon in Zaanannim and Adaminekeb and Iabneel euen to Lakum and the endes thereof are at Iordan 34 So this coast turneth Westward to Aznothtabor and goeth out from thence to Hucdock and reacheth to Zebulun on the Southside and goeth to Asher on the Westside and to Iudah by Iordan toward the Sunne rising 35 And the strong cities are Ziddim Zer and Hammath Rakkath and Cinnerith 36 And Adamah and Ramah and Hazor 37 And Kedesh and Edrei and En-hazor 38 And Iron and Migdal-el Horem Beth-anah and Bethshemesh nineteene cities with their villages 39 This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Napthalie according to their families that is the cities and their villages 40 The
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
of other tribes were not so streight but they conteined a greater number of cities than was set foorth before It is well knowen that the tribe of Leuie was the least of them all Therefore what equitie had it bene that it should haue bene enlarged fourefolde more than the tribe of Zabulon which we see had but twelue cities although it was much more populous In the tribe of Isachar are numbered onely sixeteene cities The tribe of Nepthalie nineteene The tribe of Aser twentie two Surely the diuision had bene vnequall if more cities had bene geuen to them that were fewer to dwell in Whereof it is gathered that not only the townes which are rehearsed as the appurtenances of the cities were apte for habitation but that other cities also were comprehended of which there was no mention made Finally by the lot of the tribe of Leui it appeareth plainly how large and how ample the dominion of the other tribes was 43 The Lord gaue c. If any man moue question of the rest the answere is easie that the nations of Chanaan were so terrified and amased with feare that they thought nothing more profitable for them than by slauish flatterie to redeeme peace of the children of Israel Therefore the contrie was throughly subdued and their habitation peaceable seeing that no man did either trouble them or durst enterprise any thing against them seeing there was no threatening no treason no violence or conspiracies But of the second point it is doubted how the children of Israel were placed in the possession of the promised land enioyed it so that not one syllable wanted in the promises of God of the fruition thereof Whereas before we sawe that manie enimies were dispersed amongest them The sentence of God was that not one should remaine aliue yet many they expelled not but admitted them for their neighboures as though they had bene partakers of the inheritaunce with them yea they make couenantes also with them How doe these thinges agree together that God gaue the people the possession of the land as he promised it which yet was excluded from some parte thereof by the force or stubbornesse of their enimies That this shew of coÌ„trarietie may be taken away we must discerne betweene the certeine cleere and stedfast faithfulnesse of God in keeping his promises and the â—â—ouch and negligence of the people whereby it came to passe that the benefite of God did fall away as it were out of their hands What warres so euer the people tooke in hand into what parte so euer they moued their standard the victorie was readie neither was there any other let or stay but that they might roote out all their enimies sauing their owne voluntarie slouthfulnesse Wherefore although they chaced them not away that the possession might be voyded of them yet the manifest trueth of God did appeare and set forth it selfe because it had bene no trouble for them to haue obteined the rest if the had listed to embrace the victories that were offered The summe of all this is that it was through their owne cowardise that they enioyed not the full and perfect benefite of God which we shall see in the next Chapter more plainly Chap. 22. THEN Ioshue called the Rubenites and the Gadites the halfe tribe of Manasseh 2 And said vnto them Ye haue kept all that Moses the seruant of the Lorde commaunded you and haue obeyed my voyce in all that I commanded you 3 Ye haue not forsaken your brethren this long season vnto this day but haue diligently kept the commandement of the Lorde your God. 4 And now the Lorde hath giuen rest vnto your brethren as he promised them therefore now returne ye and goe to your tentes to the land of your possession which Moses the seruant of the Lorde hathe giuen you beyond Iordan 5 But take diligent heede to do the commandement and Law which Moses the seruant of the Lorde commanded you that is that ye loue the Lord your God and walke in all his wayes and keepe his commandements and cleane vnto him and serue him with all your heart and with all your soule 6 So Ioshue blessed them and sent them away and they went vnto their tents 7 Now vnto one halfe of the tribe of Manasseh Moses had giuen apossession in Bashan and vnto the other halfe thereof gaue Ioshue among their brethren on this side Iordan Westwarde therefore when Ioshue sent them away vnto their tentes and blessed them 8 Thus he spake vnto them saying Returne with much riches to your tentes and with a great multitude of cattell with siluer with gold with brasse with yron with great abundance of raiment diuide the spoile of your enimies with your brethren 9 So the children of Ruben and the children of Gad and halfe the tribe of Manasseh returned and departed from the children of Israel from Shiloh which is in the land of Chanaan to goe vnto their countrie of Gilead to the land of the possession which they had obteined according to the worde of the Lorde by the hand of Moses 1 Then Iosue c. Here is reported the discharging of the two tribes an halfe which followed the rest of the people not that they should conquere any thing for them selues but because they had alredie obteined houses and landes without casting of lottes that they might holde out the common warre with their brethren vntill they also had obteined their quiet inheritaunce Now because they haue bene faithfull companions and helpers vnto their brethren Iosue pronounceth that they haue serued out their full time and so sendeth them home discharged and at libertie Yet it may be demaunded howe he iudgeth them to haue accomplished their lawfull time of warrefare when as yet a parte of the lande was possessed by the enimies the onely possession whereof ought to haue made a perfect end of that warre But if we call to minde that which I saied before this knot would be easie to loose If they had followed the calling of God and bene obedient to his power yea if they had not shamefully drawen backe when he reached out his hand to helpe them they might easily without any danger and with small trouble haue dispatched the remnantes of that warre Therefore through their owne slouth fulnesse they refused that which God of his liberalitie was readie to haue geuen them And so it came to passe that the couenaunt was fulfilled whereby the two tribes and the halfe had bound themselues For they bound themselues no otherwise but to accompanie the ten tribes and to fight as manfully for their inheritaunce as they would haue done for their owne Now seeing they haue continually shewed themselues faithfull companions and the ten tribes being content with their present estate doe not require but rather doe secreatly refuse their further aide they are by right permitted to returne freely vnto their owne And their patience is worthie of commendation that they are not
demanded how Caleb was so bolde to promise his daughter before he knew how her affection stoode For although it be the duâ—tie of parentes to geue foorth their daughters in marriage yet they are not allowed suche Tyrannicall rule ouer them that they may marrie them to what husbandes they list without knowing their minde and affection to them For when all contracts ought to be voluntarie in marriage especially there ought to be libertie that no man be constrained to binde his faith against his will. But Caleb was lead with a likelie reason that he doubted not of the consent of his daughter because she could not with shamefastnes refuse so honorable a condition for such a husband was geuen her as was not one of the base multitude but one that excelled al the rest in praise of warlike vertue Albeiâ— it may be that Caleb in the heate of the battell did promise vnaduisedly that which was not in his authoritie altogether to performe yet I thinke the couenant must be expounded according to common righâ— which is so that the good will of the maide were obteined Surely God heard the with of Caleb while he offered him a sonne in Law according to his heartes desire for if he had had free choyce there was no man whom he would more haue wished 18 And it came to passe when she came c. Although we may well thinke that Achsa was a maiden indued with excellent manners and well brought vp whose marriage was promised to the conquerer in place of a singular rewarde yet here is bewrayed her vnlawfull desire and couetous affection She knew that women by the Lawe of God were excluded from the inheritaunce of landes yet neuerthelesse the coueteth and pricketh forward her husband with vniust expostulation For so ambitious and couetous wiues cease not to trouble their husbandes till they compell them to forget all shame modestie and equitie For although the couetousnesse of men also is vnsatiable yet women are carried more headlong into that vice Wherefore all husbandes ought to take heede more diligently that by their importunate counsells they be not kindled to couetousnesse as it were with bellowes But greater disorder bewrayeth it selfe in her when through the gentlenesse of her husband and indulgence of her father she waxeth bolder For not being content with the land that was geuen her she requireth a grounde that is well watered So when one hath passed the measure of right honestie that vice is by and by accompanied with impudencie But whereas her father denied her nothing it is a signe that he loued her tenderly But thereof it followeth not but that the vngratious couetousnesse of lucre is worthie to be hated which blindeth our mindes and peruerteth our right iudgement Where it is said that Achsa allighted from her Asse some referre it to crafte and dissimulation as though she feâ—l downe for greefe and so her fall was a signe of swooning or failing of her heart but it is more simple to think that she fell downe at her fathers feete the more humbly to entreate him Howe so euer it was the woman by crafte and flatterie procured to her selfe the right of other men whereby the portions of her brethren were diminished 20 This is the inheritaunce c. Before he compassed the boundes of the children of Iuda but now after an other manner is declared how large and fruitfull a countrie befelâ— to them in which also the great liberalitie of God towardes them is commended There are numbered a hundred thirtene cities with their townes and villages which number doeth testifie not onely the multitude of men but also the fruitfulnesse of the lande And yet there is no doubt but that a new fruitfulnesse was geuen vnto it by the blessing of god And yet in the verie nature of the land it behoued the grace of God to shine while he chose a countrie for his people replenished with all abundance of good thinges Now if we looke to the men of the tribe halfe that region would haue serued them abundantly for their habitation For if eight hundred were diuided into euerie citie the towns villages remained for the rest of the multitude And certeinly soone after a portion was taken out which was geuen to the tribe of Simeon For so was fulfilled the dispersion whereof Iacob did prophesie that the posteritie of Simeon should be as a straunger in another mans ground Therefore they were admitted as ghestes by the children of Iuda 63 But the Iebusites c. This maketh nothing for excuse of the people neither is it set downe for that ende for if they had endeuoured to the vttermost of their power and had bene destitute of successe the reproch had fallen vppon God him selfe which had promised that he would be their Capteine continually till he had deliuered them the lande voide of their enimies and that he would send hornettes or waspes which shoulde driue away the inhabitantes Therefore it was onely through their owne slouthfulnesse and cowardlinesse that they obteined not the cittie of Hierusalem They could not therefore because slouth would not let them while through desire of quietnesse they neglected the commaundement of god A place worthie to be noted that we may learne to bend all our force cheerefully to accomplish that which God commaundeth and to omitte no occasion lest if we loyter the gate be shut vp against vs If they had deferred it but a shorte time they should not haue bene reprehended but the negligence and dastardlinesse of so long time did after a sorte reiect and driue backe the blessing of God. Chap. 16. AND the lot fell to the children of Ioseph from Iordan by Iericho vnto the water of Iericho Eastwarde and to the wildernesse that goeth vp from Iericho by the mount Bethel 2 And goeth out from Beth-el to Luz and runneth along vnto the borders of Archiataroth 3 And goeth downe Westward to the coast of Iaphleti vnto the coast of Beth-horon the nether and to Gezer and the endes thereof are at the Sea. 4 So the children of Ioseph Manasseh and Ephraim tooke their inheritance 5 Also the borders of the children of Ephraim according to their families euen the borders of their inheritance on the East-side were Atroth-addar vnto Beth-horon the vpper 6 And this border goeth out to the Sea vnto Micmethah on the Northside and this border returneth Eastwarde vnto Taanath-shiloh and passeth it on the Eastside vnto Ianoha 7 And goeth downe from Ianoha to Ataroth and Naarath and commeth to Iericho and goeth out at Iordan 8 And this border goeth from Tappuah Westwarde vnto the riuer Kanah and the endes thereof are at the Sea this is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Ephraim by their families 9 And the separate cities for the children of Ephraim were among the inheritance of the children of Manasseh all the cities with their villages 10 And they cast not out the Chanaanite that dwelt in
Gezer but the Chanaanite dwelleth among the Ephraimites vnto this day and serue vnder tribute 1 And the lotte c. First he telleth generally what lotte fell to the two sonnes of Ioseph afterwardes he rehearseth the lotte of Ephraim And it is maxuell seeing halfe the tribe of Manasse was alreadie placed beyond Iordan yet more wordes are spent about the other parte which remained than about all the tribe of Ephraim which as it was more populous so it did iustly challenge a larger ground but that the speech is longer about the posteritie of Manasse it commeth by occasion because the author of the booke doeth repeate againe how they had a place appointed them without casting of lots in the land of Basan Afterward he reherseth that that was confirmed by Iosue which Moses by authoritie of God coÌ„manded concerning the daughters of Selophad Therefore when there was no doubt of the bounds of Ephraim neither should there be any strife about them their lotte is breefly set forth But here ariseth a newe question seeing the right of the first begotten was passed from Manasse to Ephraim how the posteritie of him which was higher in degree of honour obteined their citties among the children of Manasse For by this meanes their state seemeth to be inferiour vnto them But I doe so interprete it that when the portion of Manasse was larger than according to the number of the men when iust accompt was made certeine cities were withdrawen which made vp the iust portion of the â—ribe of Ephraim not that they should dwell intermixed as it were by licence of the children of Manasse but because their borders were extended further toward them whom a sâ—anter possession might suffice But in the end of the Chapter the slouth and cowardise of the tribe of Ephraim is noted with inâ—amie for that he draue not out the Chanaanite out of Gaza for if they had gone forward manfully and wisely to challenge the land which was fallen vnto them by lot the victorie was in their hande for they should haue attempted nothing rashly because the casting of lottes was as good as if God had reached forth his hand out of heauen But their shamefull slouthfulnes is more clearely expressed and their fault augmented because they made them tributaries with whome it was not lawfull to enter into any couenant Therefore when God had expressely forbidden his people to make any contract with those nations and specially to coâ—enant with them for pardon and life the children of Ephraim did more greeuously offend than if they had suffered them without any couenant Chap. 17. THis was also the lotte of the tribe of Manasseh for he was the first borne of Ioseph to wit of Machir the first borne of Manasseh and the father of Gilead now becase he was a man of warre he had Gilead Bashan 2 And also of the rest of the sonnes of Manasseh by their families euen of the sonnes of Abiezer and of the sonnes of Helek and of the sonnes of Azriel and of the sonnes of Shechem and of the sonnes of Hepher and of the sonnes of Shemida these were the males of Manassah the sonne of Ioseph according to their families 3 But Zelophehad the sonne of Hepher the sonne of Gilead the sonne of Machir the sonne of Manasseh had no sonnes but daughters and these are the names of his daughters Malhah and Noah Hoglah Milchah and Tirzah 4 Which came before Eleazar the Priest and before Iosâ—ue the sonne of Nun before the Princes saying The Lord commanded Moses to geue vs an inheritance among our brethren â–ª therefore according to the commaundement of the Lord hee gaue them an inheritaunce among the brethren of their father 5 And there fell tenne portions to Manasseh beside the land of Gilead and Bashan whiche is on the otherside Iordan 6 Because the daughters of Manasseh did inherite among his sonnes and Manassehs other sonnes had the land of Gilead 7 So the borders of Manasseh were from Asher to Micmethah that lieth before Shechem and this border goeth on the right hand euen vnto the inhabitantes of Entappuah 8 The land of Tappuah belonged to Manasseh but Tappuah beside the border of Manasseh belongeth to the sonnes of Ephraim 9 Also this border goeth downe vnto the riuer Kanah Southwarde to the riuer these cities of Ephraim are among the cities of Manasseh and the border of Manasseh is on the Northside of the riuer and the ends of it are at the Sea. 10 The South perteineth to Ephraim and the North to Manasseh and the Sea is his border and they mette together in Asher Northwarde and in Issachar Eastward He returneth againe to the tribe of Manasse especially to confirme that which wee sawe before of the daughters of Selophehad For it beeing a straunge matter that women should succeede indifferently with men yet because there was fiue of them left by their father they proued that it was meete that left their father without his desert should be punished as one that died childlesse it was meete that they should be receiued into his portion So God by an oracle had geuen answeare vnto Moses that they should make one head in succession Now they require that the same may be to them perfourmed which was adiudged by the mouth of god That Manasse doeth still reteine the name of the first begotten wee ought to take it so that it be not repugnant to the prophesie of Iacob for rather his birthright is here after a manner buried and his dignitie restrained vnto the time passed Where it is to be noted that men are such holdfastes and addict vnto their owne profites that it seldome commeth in their mindes to yeeld to other men their right The daughters of Selophehad by an heauenly decree had obceined a portion neither was there any man that durst say a worde against it But for all that if they had held their peace there had bene none accompt made of them Therfore lest lingering should be hurtfull to them they come to Iosue Eleazar vrge them that they be not depriued of their lawfull inheritance And Iosue maketh no delay but that they may obteine immediately that which is iust and right Neither doe the people murmur at it Wherevpon wee gather that they were all well inclined to equitie but while euery man is carefull for his owne they doe too much neglecte others of whom they ought to haue regarde 5 And ten inheritances c. In this place are numbred seuen stockes or houses in the posteritie of Manasse Machir his eldest sonne is placed by himselfe Now it is demanded how the inheritance was diuided into tenne partes Some interpreters doe craftily make as though they sawe not this doubt other because they cannot lose the knot inuent verie trifling expositions Surely it were against all reson that foure lots were geuen to fiue daughters And it is no more agreable to truth that because their father was the eldest therfore they