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
the first verse riseth a question because that after it is said that there were fiue principalities about the Sea coast the Auites are added in the sixt place Some thinke they are not reckoned among the fiue because it was a small prouince But let the readers consider whether there be not a secreat opposition betweene a people that was free and of their owne gouernement and of the fiue principalities Therefore because the state of the Auites was diuerse from the rest they are numbered seuerally And therefore a Nowne plurall is set for distinction sake But as for the rehearsall of these principalities is not made according to the dignitie or wealth of euerie one but Aza occupied the first place because it was next Egypt And the same reson is in Asdod the rest The Grecians after their manner for the Hebrue letter AIN put their GAMMA so they cal that Gaza which the Hebrues call Aza like as of Amorrha they make Gomorrha Wherby their error is sufficiently discouered which faine that Gaza was a Persian name so called of riches because Cambyses when he would make warre in Greece laid vp his treasure there But because in Luke mention is made of the desert of Gazaâ—it appeareth that a citie of the same name was builded neere to it but in another place Asdod is that Citie which the Grecians called Azotus Now all this Sea coast or that which is nigh the Sea is brought a long euen vnto Sidon And there be which thinke that the Phenicians in times past were Lordes both of Gaza and Azotus Nowe farre the mount Libanus extendeth it is well knowne for some time it comprehendeth the mount Hermon And for the length of it one part of it is called Antilibanus Of that mount Hermon the reader shall find Deuteronomie 4. Towarde the East is Hemath which is also called Antiochia of Syria 6 All the inhabitantes of the hill c. Iosue is againe admonished that although the Israelites did not yet possesse those regions yet he shoulde not deferre the partition but trust in the promise of God because men doe maliciously defame his power when they doubt of the end Wherefore it is said Only doe thou thy duetie in distribution of the lande neither let that bee exempted from the lottes which the enimies doe quietly possesse bycause I will haue a care to fulfill that I haue promised Hereof let vs learne in taking affaires in hand so to depend vppon the mouth of God that no doubtfulnesse doe stay vs Indeede it is not our parte to frame vaine hope vnto our selues but when our trust is grounded vppon God onely let vs obey his commandements because it is not to be feared that wee can be deceiued in the successe Afterward he assigneth the land of Chanaan to nine tribes an halfe because the Rubenites Gadites and the halfe tribe of Manasses had their portion geuen them on the other side of Iordan And although there seemeth to be a vaine repetition in these wordes which Moses gaue vnto them as Moses gaue vnto them yet is there nothing super fluous for that in the second member the gift is confirmed as if God ratified that which was done Therfore as Moses gaue theÌ„ that land so let them remaine in quiet possession And for this cause he is adorned with the title of The seruant of God that no man should breke that decree which Gods faithfull minister had published by his authoritie And surely it was needfull to stay all controuersies which otherwise might daily haue arisen 14 Onely to the tribe of Leui c. This exception also was necessarie least the Leuites should complaine that they were vniustly disherited and so might raise great trouble about their right Therefore he admonisheth them that Moses was the authour of this distinction and with all teacheth that they haue no cause to complaine for any thing taken from them because a goodly recompense was geuen vnto them And although the sacrifices were not equally diuided among the Leuites yet it is sufficient that they all had their liuing of the first fruites and tenthes And as God by reward allureâ—h them to take charge of the holy things so likewise he exhorteth the people to performe and pay their holie oblations faithfully when he pronounceth that his sacrifices are their liuing 15 Moses then gaue vnto the tribe of the children of Ruben inheritance according to their families 16 And their coast was from Aroer that is on the brinke of the riuer Arnon and from the citie that is in the middest of the riuer and all the plaine which is by Medeba 17 Heshbon with all the cities thereof that are in the plaine Dibon and Bamoth-baal and Beth-baal-meon 18 And Iahazah and Kedemoth and Mephaath 19 Kiriathaim also and Sibmah Zerethshahar in the mount of Emek 20 And Beth-peor and Ashdoth-pisgah and Beth-ieshimoth 21 And all the cities of the plaine and all the kingdome of Sihon King of the Amorites which reigned in Heshbon whom Moses smote with the Princes of Midian Eui and Rekem and Zur and Hur and Reba the Dukes of Sihon dwelling in the countrie 22 And Balaam the sonne of Beor the southsayer did the children of Israel slaie with the sworde among them that were slaine 23 And the border of the children of Ruben was Iordan with the coastes this was the inheritance of the children of Ruben according to their families with the cities and their villages 24 Also Moses gaue inheritance vnto the tribe of Gad euen vnto the children of Gad according to their families 25 And their coastes were Iazer and all the cities of Gilead and halfe the land of the children of Ammon vnto Aroer which is before Rabbah 26 And from Heshbon vnto Ramoth Mizpeh and Betonim and from Mahanaim vnto the borders of Debir 27 And in the vallie Beth-aram and Beth-nimrah and Succoth and Zaphon the rest of the kingdome of Sihon King of Heshbon vnto Iordan and the borders euen vnto the Sea coast of Cinereth beyonde Iordan Eastward 28 This is the inheritance of the children of Gad after their families with the cities and their villages 29 Also Moses gaue inheritance vnto the halfe tribe of Manasseh and this belonged to the halfe tribe of the children of Manasseh according to their families 30 And their border was from Mahanaim euen all Bashan to wit all the kingdome of Og King of Bashan and all the townes of Iair which are in Bashan threescore cities 31 And halfe Gilead and Ashtaroth and Edrei cities of the kingdome of Og in Bashan were geuen vnto the children of Machir the sonne of Manasseh to halfe of the children of Machir after their families 32 These are the heritages which Moses did distribute in the plaine of Moab beyonde Iordan towarde Iericho Eastward 33 But vnto the tribe of Leui Moses gaue none inheritance for the Lorde God of Israel is their inheritance as he saide vnto them 15 Moses gaue c. That
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
to this woman which dwelc in a blind corner For her house ioyued vnto the wall yea the outmost wall of her house was sette vpon the wall of the citie Whereby it may be gathered that it was a blind corner farre froÌ„ the market place like as harlots for the most part dwell in allies solitarie places of cities And it is nothing like that she was a common Inkeeper which receiued all maner of ghests that cam for then could she not haue had any libertie for such familiar talke as she had with theÌ„ she should haue had verie much a doe to haue hid theÌ„ Wherfore thus I take it that wheÌ„ they had priuily stollen into the citie streight way they hid theÌ„ selues in that corner But whereas a woman before time giueÌ„ to that filthie kind of life was soone after knitte into the bodie of the elect people that she might be made a meÌ„ber of the Church it doeth more notably set foorth and commend the grace of GOD which entered euen into the Stewes to draw froÌ„ thence not only Rahab but also her father and her brethren Surely seing the name ZONAH doth euery where almost signifie an harlot no reason can driue me in this place to refuse the vsuall signification thereof 2 It was tolde the king c. It is like that as it is vsed in doubtfull times and when there is any feare of warre that warriers were appointed at the gates which noted those strangers The Israelites were not farre off which openly professed vnto the Edomites and Moabites that they sought a dwelling place in the lande of Chanaan the multitude of them was terrible they had slaine two kinges that were borderers and possessed all their dominions their passage ouer the redsea as we shall see afterwarde was famous and notoriously knowen Wherfore it had bene to much negligence in so manifest a daunger to suffer all straungers to haue free passage through the citie of Iericho that lieth in the border of the lande Wherefore it is no maruell that men vnknowen and such as by many tokens might well be taken for their enimies were accused vnto the king And yet we may well gather that they were blinded of God because they kept not their gates more diligently for after they were once entered they might easily haue vene apprehended if they had vsed but meane diligence Yea they might haue bene streightway examined and so they had bene easily founde out But the Citizens of Iericho so trembled for feare that being amazed by the iudgement of God they did nothing by good reason or with aduise And in the meane time the two spies also were almost brought into the same streightes being readie immediately to be drawne forth to punishment The king sendeth for them they lie hidde in the alehouse their life hangeth vpon the womans tongue as vpon a thred Some thinke that the distrust of Iosue was thus chastised because he should onely haue trusted in the direction of God and safely haue passed ouer Iordan without taking further thought for any thing But the ende of the matter leadeth vs into the contrarie sentence that God by deliuering the messengers out of so great daunger gaue courage vnto the people for in that demonstration of his power he did openly shew that he watched also for the safegarde of the people and for their happie entraunce into the lande 4 A woman receiued the c. We may coniecture that before Rahab was commanded to bring them forth the rumor was spread of their comming so that she had some leasure geuen her to hide them And verily after she heard the Kings commaundement except she had prouided all thinges before to deceiue them there had bene no place of deniall much lesse durst she haue bene so bolde to haue lied so serurely But because she had so well hidden her ghestes that it was hard to find them out she commeth forth without feare and with a craftie answere deliuereth her selfe Now in this place it is demanded first Whether this betraying of her contrie was excusable or no and secondly Whether her lye was without offence We knowe that the loue of our contrie is naturally ingraffed in vs which is as it were our common mother Wherefore seing Rahab knewe that the matter concerned the destruction of that citie whereof she was a Citizen and member it seemeth to be detestable inhumanitie and treason that she should ayde the espialles with her counsell and helpe It is a childish shift to saye That they were not yet professed enimies because that warre was not proclamed against them when is is manifest that they coÌ„spired the destructioÌ„ of their fellow Citizens Therfore that only knowledge that God put in her mind doth discharge her from that crime as one exempt from the common lawe Her faith is praised by two Apostles which both doe testifie that the â—â—rtesie which she shewed to the espials was acceptable to god No. maruell therefore if GOD when he vouchsafed to remotte this straunge woman vnto his owne people to graffe her into the body of his Church did separate her from the vnholy and cursed nation Wherfore although she was bound vnto her countriemen euen vntill that day yet as soone as she was coupled vnto the body of the Church this her new state was a certaine manumission and deliuerance from the law of societie whereby Citizens are bound one to another Finally that she might passe through faith into a new people it was necessarie for her to forsake her olde countrie men And because she gaue place onely to the iudgement of God there was no fault of treason in her Concerning her lye we must so take it although it tended to a good end yet was it not without offence For they which doe altogether excuse that kinde of lye which they call duetifull doe not sufficiently consider how precious a thing truth is vnto god Therfore although our purpose be to helpe our brethren to prouide for their saftie and to support them yet is it neuer lawfull to lye because it can not be good which is contrarie to the nature of God and God is trueth Neuerthelesse the worke of Rahab is not therefore spoiled of all praise of vertue although it be stained with this spot For oftentimes it happeneth while holy men intend to kepe the right way sometimes for all that they turne aside as it were into crooked bywayes While Rebecca procureth the blessing for her sonne Iacob she followeth the iudgement of the diuine answere In this obedience her godly laudable zeale appeareth But when she setteth her sonne Iacob in the place of Esau there is no doubt but she departeth from her duetie For that subtiltie of hers doeth staine in some parte her woorke which of it selfe was commendable And yet that particular fault doth not btterly abolish all praise of her holy purpose because it is buried in the mercy of God that it shuld not be laid to
obteined the victorie against the Gods of Egypt as the Poetes feigne that as euerie God taketh vpon him the defence of any contrie so he fighteth against the Gods of other countries whiles euerie one defendeth his Clientes But the faith of Rahab ascendeth higher whiles she ascribeth all power and eternitie to the God of Israel onely For the name of Iehouah conteineth in it that confession Wherefore she dreameth not after the common manner of men that one of the whole companie of the Gods doeth aide the Israelites but she magnifieth and acknowledgeth him to be that onely true God which was commonly knowen to fauour them We see therefore how by the common report she professed much more than all her countrie fellowes did 11 The Lord your God c. Here appeareth as it were in a glasse a goodly image of the faith of Rahab when she casteth downe all idâ—ls and ascribeth the gouernement of heauen and earth to the only God of Israel For this is not doubtfull that when the gouernement of heauen and earth is confessed to be subiect to the God of Israel all the inuentions of the Gentiles are reiected by which the maiestie and power of God is rent in peeces and his glory defaced Wherefore wee see that not without great cause the faith of Rahab is commended by two Apostles Certaine proud and disdainfull persons haue that mater in decision but I would they could consider what it is to discerne the onely true God from all feigned and conterfeit Gods so to extoll his power that he be iudged to gouerne the whole world at his pleasure For Rahab speaketh not doubtingly but she doth absolutely pronounce that all power and authoritie is in the only God of Israel that he may gouerne all the elements that he may dispose all things both aboue and beneath and order all the affaires of man as it pleaseth him In the meane time I doe not denie but that her faith was yet vnperfect yea I doe willingly graunt that she had yet but a small branch of godlines which was not sufficient to eternall saluation Yet for all that we must acknowledge thus much that although the knowledge of God was yet but small and slender in this woman neuerthelesse seeing she submitteth her selfe vnto his gouernement she geueth forth a testimonie of her election and that out of this seed her faith did spring which afterward grew vp vnto a perfect measure 12 Now therefore sweare c. This is an other argument of her faith that she placeth the children of Abraham in certeine possession of the lande of Chanaan grounding her persuasion vpon none other reason but that she had hearde it was promised them of god For she thought not that God would fauour them if they had bene robbers spoilers which with vniust violence oppression had entered vpoÌ„ the possessions of other mens lands but rather she is persuaded that they came into the land of Chanaan because the right inheritance thereof was adiudged to be theirs by god Neither is it to be thought that when they desired passage of the Edomites and other nations that they spared to declare whither they intended to goe Yea those nations knewe right well that the promise was made to Abraham the remembrance wherof was again renewed by the reiection of Esau. Moreouer in the speach of Rahab againe doth shine that qualitie which the Author of the epistle to the Hebrues ascribeth to faith That it is a sight of thinges that are not seene Rahab dwelleth in her owne countrie and in a strong citie yet doth she commend her life to straungers that were almost dead for feare and daunger as though they were already in possession of the lande and had power in their hand to saue destroy whom it pleased them Certeinly this voluntarie yeelding was as much in effecte as if she had embraced the promise of God and geuen ouer her selfe into his defence and protection Yet she requireth an othe of them because it happeneth ofte in sacking of cities that furie and trouble maketh men to forget their dutie For the same purpose she reherseth what gentlenes she had shewed vnto them that thankefulnesse might the rather prouoke them to keepe their promise For though the reuerence of their othe should haue bene sufficient to binde them yet it were double vngentlnesse vnthankfulnesse not to be mindfull of their Hostesse by whom they them selues were deliuered from death It is also a good point of humanitie that she is careful for her father and her kinsfolke And that is in deede naturall yet many are so addicte vnto them selues that children wil not dout to redeeme their owne life with the death of their parentes so farre off is it that they would applie all their studies and endeuours to saue them 14 Our soule c. They curse them selues to death if they did not vse all faithfulnesse diligence to saue Rahab For whereas some translate it We will deliuer our soules c. It seemeth farre fetched to much strained seing their purpose is nothing els but to bind them selues before god Wherfor they set out them selues as monuments of Gods wrath if Rahab suffer any aduersitie through their negligence That worde For you doubtlesse is to be referred vnto her father brethren and sisters Therfore they gage their liues that bloud should be required of their handes if the whole familie of Rahab did not remaine vnspoiled And herein consisteth the holinesse of an othe that although they might breake promise without punishment as concerning men yet God being called to witnesse will haue an accompt of their vnfaithfulnesse To shew mercie and trueth among the Hebrues is as much as to doe the office and dutie of humanitie faithfully truly constantly But this exception is added that Rahab bewray not the matter her selfe which they require not of distrust as it is commonly expounded but that Rahab might the rather take heed to her self Wherfore this was a faithful admonition proceeded of meere good will because it was to be feared least Rahab would bewray her self Finally they shew how necessarie it was that the matter should be kept close lest the woman vnaduisedly bosting of her promise should be cause of her owne death Wherein they declare that they were carefull in deede of her preseruation when they doe in time prouide that they be not preuented of means how to helpe her And whereas they doe charge her expresly that no person goe out of her house and protest that they will be innocent if any of them be slaine abroade we may gather this profitable doctrine thereof that we must be carefull in taking of othes least while we promise all thinges vnaduisedly we prophane and dishonor the name of god The counsell that Rahab geueth that they should get them into the hilles and there tarrie three dayes doeth teach vs that such warinesse is not contrarie to faith wherby men seke to preuent
another shal be brused with a stone yea vnto some the wombe is their graue before they see the light It is certeine that none of these kindes of death doe happen but by the will of god Yet for all this who shall be so bolde as to pleade against him And if any bee so mad that he doe what shall he preuaile Hereof we must be persuaded that none perish by his commandement but such as he hath appointed to die But whereas his oxen his asses his sheepe are rehearsed we may gather that he was rich inough that pouertie could not prouoke him to committe this wicked fact wherein his vnsattable couetousnesse be wrayed it selfe that he desired stollen goodes not for necessitie but for rioâ—â—e and excesse 25 Iosue saide c. This seemeth to be to harde an insultation as though he purposed to driue the miserable man whom he shoulde haue exhorted to patience almost into furie and madnesse Howbeit I doubt not but that he spake this for the peoples sake that it might be a profitable example for them all I iudge therefore that he meant not to ouerwhelme Achan with disperation but in his person to shewe how greeuous an offence it was to trouble the Church of god Although it may be that the proude man complained that his satisfaction was not receiued wherby he thought to haue bene discharged and that therefore Iosue either to reforme or breake his pride and stubbornesse inueihed more sharpely against him For by the interrogation it semeth that he did expostulate with him and when he called God the Iudge he seemeth to stop the obstinate mans mouth That all the people threwe stones it was done in signe of detestation as if they would testifie that they were most clere of that crime which they did reuenge in another and still did abhorre it The heape of stones was partly a monument to the posteritie partly for this cause that if the place had ben voâ—de some man vnawares might gather vp the parcelles of gold and siluer For although God at the first commaunded the gold and the siluer to be offered vnto him yet would he not haue his sanctuarie polluted with thefte Chap. 8. AFTER the Lorde saide vnto Ioshua Feare not neither be thou faint hearted take all the men of warre with thee and arise goe vp to Ai behold I haue giuen into thine hande the King of Ai and his people and his Citie and his lande 2 And thou shalt doe to Ai and to the King thereof as thou diddest to Iericho to the King thereof neuerthelesse the spoile thereof the cattell thereof shall ye take vnto you for a pray thou shalt lie in waite against the Citie on the backeside thereof 3 Then Ioshua arose and all the men of warre to goe vp against Ai and Ioshua chose out thirtie thousande strong men and valiant and sent them away by night 4 And he commaunded them saying Beholde ye shall lie in waite against the Citie on the backeside of the Citie goe not verie farre from the Citie but be ye all in a readinesse 5 And I and all the people that are with me will approche vnto the Citie and when they shall come out against vs as they did at the first time then will we flee before them 6 For they will come out after vs till we haue brought them out of the citie for they will say They flee before vs as at the first time so we will flee before them 7 Then you shall rise vp from lying in waite and destroy the citie for the Lord your God will deliuer it into your hand 8 And when ye haue taken the citie ye shall set it on fire according to the commaundement of the Lord shall ye doe beholde I haue charged you 9 Ioshua then sent them forth and they went to lie in waite and abode betweene Beth-el and Ai on the West side of Ai but Ioshua lodged that night among the people 10 And Ioshua rose vp earely in the morning and numbered the people and he and the Elders of Israel went vp before the people against Ai. 11 Also all the men of warre that were with him went vp and drewe neere and came against the citie pitched on the North-side of Ai and there was a vallie betweene them and Ai 12 And he tooke about fiue thousand men and set them to lie in waite betweene Beth-el and Ai on the West side of the citie 13 And the people set all the host that was on the Northside against the citie and the liers in waite on the West against the citie and Ioshua went the same night into the middest of the vallie 14 And when the King of Ai sawe it then the men of the citie hasted and rose vp earely and went out against Israel to battell he and all his people at the time appointed before the plaine for he knew not that any lay in waite against him on the backside of the citie 15 Then Ioshua and all Israel as beaten before them fled by the way of the wildernesse 16 And all the people of the citie were called together to pursue after them and they pursued after Ioshua and were drawen away out of the citie 17 So that there was not a man left in Ai nor in Beth-el that went not out after Israel and they left the citie open and pursued after Israel 18 Then the Lord said vnto Ioshua Stretch out the speare that is in thine hand toward Ai for I will geue it into thine hand and Ioshua stretched out the speare that he had in his hand toward the citie 19 And they that lay in wayte arose quickly out of their place and ranne as soone as he had stretched out his hand they entred into the citie and tooke it and hasted and set the citie on fire 20 And the men of Ai looked behinde them and sawe it for loe the smoke of the citie ascended vp to heauen and they had no power to flee this way or that way for the people that fled to the wildernesse turned backe vpon the pursuers 21 When Ioshua and all Israel sawe that they that lay in wayte had taken the citie and that the smoke of the citie mounted vp then they turned againe and slue the men of Ai. 22 Also the other issued out of the citie against them so were they in the middest of Israel these being on the one side and the rest on the other side and they slue them so that they let none of them remaine nor escape 23 And the King of Ai they tooke aliue and brought him to Ioshua 24 And when Israel had made an end of slaying all the inhabitants of Ai in the field that is in the wildernesse where they chased them and when they were all fallen on the edge of the sword vntill they were consumed all the Israelites returned vnto Ai and smote it with the edge of the sworde 25 And all that fell that day
not make them serue for the warres yet the price of them was not to be despised if they had bene solde But Iosue thought it not good to consider any thing but that which pleased god Now because he had obteined through his vertue that he had the people tractable and obedient that which was performed by all men is reckoned in the praise of one man. 12 All the cities of these Kinges c When the armie was throughly discomfited then they began to waste spoile the contrie to take sacke the cities Where it is said that the cities which remained vntouched were not burned thereof we may gather a likely coniecture that some were taken by force and assault and so destroyed Only Hazor after it was taken the heate appeased was consumed with fire because it was the firebrand to kindle the rest vnto warre Moreouer that which we haue seene before that Iosue refrained not the heate of his wrath vntill he had slaiue all from the greatest to the least it is often and plainely repeated in this place For that which before was not expressed is now plainely set downe that Iosue did faithfully perfourme his duetie because he accomplished that which God by Moses had commaunded Therefore it was euen as much as if he had consecrated his handes vnto God when he destroyed those nations according to his commandement For thus we must take it though all the world condemne vs yet it is sufficient to discharge vs of all crime that we haue God for our authour In the meane time we must wisely consider what euerie mans vocation requireth that no man take vpon him to followe Iosue in the licentiousnesse of his owne zeale least he be iudged a cruel bloudsucker rather than a seuere minister of God. 15 As the Lorde had commaunded Moses his seruant so did Moses commaunde Ioshue and so did Ioshue he left nothing vndone of all that the Lord had commaunded Moses 16 So Ioshue tooke all this land of the mountaines and all the South and all the land of Goshen and the lowe countrie and the plaine and the mountaine of Israel and the lowe countrie of the same 17 From the mount Halak that goeth vp to Seir euen vnto Baal-gad in the vallie of Lebanon vnder mount Hermon and all their Kings he tooke and smote them and slewe them 18 Ioshue made warre long time with all those Kinges 19 Neither was there any citie that made peace with the children of Israel saue those Hiuites that inhabited Gibeon all other they tooke by battell 20 For it came of the Lorde to harden their heartes that they should come against Israel in battell to the intent that they shuld destroy them vtterly and shewe them no mercie but that they should bring them to nought as the Lorde had commaunded Moses 21 And that same season came Ioshue and destroyed the Anakims out of the mountaines as out of Hebron out of Debir out of Anab and out of all the mountaines of Iudah and out of all the mountaines of Israel Ioshue destroyed them vtterly with their cities 22 There was no Anakim left in the land of the children of Israel onely in Azzah in Gath and in Ashdod were they left 23 So Ioshue tooke the whole land according to all that the Lord had said vnto Moses and Ioshue gaue it for an inheritance vnto Israel according to their portions through their tribes then the land was at rest without warre 16 And Iosue tooke c. In the continuall course of these victories when the land of it selfe did spue out the olde inhabitantes to giue place vnto the Israelites it did openly appeare which is said in the Psalme Although they fought valiantly yet they conquered not the land with their swordes nor 〈◊〉 them selues with their owne arme but by the hand and arme and brightnesse of the countenance of God they obteined all thinges For this purpose the places and regions are reckoned vp that we may knowe that God proceeded with a continuall course in that woorke which he began But they are deceiued which thinke a certeine mountaine to be noted by the name of Israel because it will appeare in the end of the Chapter that the hillie part is indifferently called by the name of Israel and Iuda Wherefore the singular number is put for the plurall because the mountaines of the tenne tribes are compared with the mountaines of Iuda Therefore this opposition must be vnderstood In the other hill the name is doubtful some take it for a diuision as though the hill were cutte in two partes other for smooth because it was without trees like as a mans heade becommeth smooth with baldnesse Let the readers take their choise in a matter vncerteine and of small effect 18 Many dayes c. Before within a short time and as it were with a swift course he had conquered fiue kingdomes in the rest there was another respect not through slacknesse or wearinesse or idlenesse but because God did exercise his people diuersly that his manifold grace might appeare more manifestly which for the most part is not esteemed of vs if it shewe it selfe all after one manner Therefore like as before that wonderfull easinesse of victories did set foorth the power of God so this lingering warfare did declare the redie helpe of God by many documentes Neither did it so happen soudenly and vnlooked for for God shewed aforehand by Moses that it should so come to passe least if the lande were streight way made desolate the wilde beastes would increale vpon it Finally we see here as it were in a glasse that whatsoeuer God promised by Moses was performed in deede and plaine effect But with the truth of the promises we must also consider the singular fauour of God toward his chosen people that as a prouident and carefull housholder he neglected or omitted not any thing that might serue for their profit 19 There was no citie which made peace c. At the first sight it is contrarie to this sentence that which is often repeted by Moses that the Israelites should not make any couenant with those nations nor admitte any conditions of peace but vtterly consume and destroy their race â—sâ—ed their name Therefore seeing they were excluded from all couenantes and should haue desired peace in vaine it is against reason that their destruction should be imputed to their owne stubbornesse when they coulde by no entreatie haue obteined pardon For suppose they had sent Embassadours with oliue branches haue desired peace Iosue would streight haue answered that it was not lawfull for him to enter into any treatie with them because God had forbidden him Wherefore if they had assaied an hundred wayes to haue auoyded the warre yet they must needs haue ben destroyed Why are they blamed therefore that they did not desire peace As though they were not constrained of necessitie to fight when they sawe they had to doe with such a
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
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
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