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
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
men and hid them Therefore said she thus There came men vnto me but I wist not whence they were 5 And when they shut the gate in the darke the men went out whither the men went I wote not followe ye after them quickely for ye shall ouertake them 6 But she had brought them vp to the roofe of the house hid them with the stalkes of flaxe which she had spread abroade vpon the roofe 7 And certeine men pursued after them the way to Iordan vnto the foordes and assoone as they which pursued after them were gone out they shut the gate 8 And before they were a sleepe she came vp vnto them vpon the roofe 9 And said vnto the men I knowe that the Lord hathe giuen you the land and that the feare of you is fallen vpon vs and that all the inhabitants of the land faint because of you 10 For we haue heard how the Lord dryed vp the water of the read Sea before you when you came out of Aegypt what you did vnto the two Kings of the Amorites that were on the other side Iordan vnto Sihon and to Og whome ye vtterly destroyed 11 And when we hearde it our heartes did faint and there remained no more courage in any because of you for the Lord your God he is the God in heauen aboue and in earth beneth 12 Now therefore I pray you sweare vnto me by the Lord that as I haue shewed you mercie ye will also shewe mercie vnto my fathers house and giue me a true token 13 And that ye will saue aliue my father and my mother and my brethren and my sisters and all that they haue and that ye will deliuer our soules from death 14 And the men answeared her Our life for you to die if ye vtter not this our businesse and when the Lord hath giuen vs the lande we will deale mercifully and truely with thee 15 Then she let them downe by a cord through the windowe for her house was vppon the towne wall and she dwelt vpon the the wall 16 And she saide vnto them Goe you into the mountaine left the pursuers meete with you and hide your selues there three dayes vntill the pursuers be returned then afterwarde may yee goe your way 17 And the men saide vnto her We will be blamelesse of this thine othe which thou hast made vs sweare 18 Beholde when we come into the lande thou shalt binde this corde of red threed in the windowe whereby thou lettest vs downe and thou shalt bring thy father and thy mother and thy brethren and all thy fathers housholde home to thee 19 And whosoeuer then doeth goe out at the doores of thine house into the streat his bloud shall be vpon his head and we will be guiltlesse but whosoeuer shal be with thee in the house his bloud shal be on our head if any hande touch him 20 And if thou vtter this our matter we will be quit of thine othe which thou hast made vs sweare 21 And she answeared According vnto your wordes so be it Then she sent them away and they departed and she bound the red corde in the windowe 22 And they departed and came into the mountaine and there abode three dayes vntill the pursuers were returned and the pursuers sought them throughout all the way but founde them not 23 So the two men returned and descended from the mountaine and passed ouer and came to Ioshua the sonne of Nun and tolde him all thinges that came vnto them 24 Also they said vnto Ioshua Surely the Lord hath deliuered into our handes all the land for euen all the inhabitantes of the countrie faint because of vs. 1 Iosue had sent c. This was an other kinde of espying whereof the text now entreateth than that former was when Iosue with other eleuen was sent namely to searche all the quarters of the lande and to make report before all the people of the situation nature and fruitfulnesse of the countrie and of other qualities thereof of the greatnes and frequencie of the cities of the inhabitantes and their maners To this intent that they might more willingly addresse them selues to march forwarde against them when otherwise they were to slowe and slouthfull for such an enterprise And although it appeareth out of the first Chapter of Deuteronomie that Moses was earnestly required by the people to sende chosen men to spie out the lande yet elsewhere he reporteth that he did so by the commaundement of god Wherefore those twelue persons went both by the commaundement of God and for an ende somewhat diuerse from these that after they had diligently spied out the land they might be able to commende the excellencie thereof to encourage the mindes of the people to conquere it But now Iosue sendeth two men priuily which might espie whether they might haue free passage or no whether the inhabitants of Iericho were in securitie or else well prouided and readie to fight Finally he sendeth suche espialles by whose report he may preuent all daungers Wherefore the question may be argued on both partes Whether this counsell of his was to be allowed or else to be condemned of to much carefulnesse especially because he semeth to haue leaned to much to his owne wisedome whiles he asketh no counsell of GOD and is so circumspect to preuent all dangers But albeit it is not expressed that he was commaunded by oracle to will the people to remoue and so published a decree for the passage of Iordane yet when the matter it selfe is euident that he did not once thinke of raising the campe but by Gods direction it is not vnlike that he inquited of God also what his pleasure was concerning the sending of those espialles or else because God sawe that they had neede of this ayde for their confirmation he did of himselfe inspire this counsell into his seruaunt Howsoeuer it be while Iosue commaundeth his espials to consider and search Iericho he prepareth himselfe to lay seege vnto it and to assault it and therefore he is desirous to be certified on what part he may haue more easie and safe accesse vnto it 2 Entered into the house c. For what cause some interpreters doe spare to call her an harlot and expound the worde ZONAH for a viteller I see not at all vnlesse they thought it had ben a shame for them to lodge in an harlottes house or else were desirous to deliuer the woman from the reproche of an harlot which did not onely gently intertaine those messengers but also by her singular good courage and wisedome preferued them from daunger It is in deede an vsual manner of the Iewish Rabbines that they may saue the honour of their nation boldly to wrest the Scriptures and with their vaine glosses to peruert and chaunge whatsoeuer seemeth not to sounde honorably for them Howbeit it is like that whiles the messenger sought to avoid the sight multitude of the people they cam
vew them except all lettes beeing remoued his way had bene made open by God himselfe This also increased the miracle that the King of Geser which came to aide the other no doubt but with great boldnesse was soudenly and with none a do discomfited and nothing stayed his continuall tenour of marching for warde As for them that were slaine in the cities doe as it were in a glasse represent those men whose punishment God suspendeth while he is doing execution vpon others for although they reioyce in themselues for the respite of a short time yet they are in worse case than if they had ben drawen vnto death at the first It had ben a miserable thing to haue ben slaine in the feelde Well they escaped and defend themselues with the malles of their cities But there which is more miserable their wiues children are slaine in their sight and they themselues haue a more shamefull ende than if they had bene slaine fighting in the feelde Let vs not therefore enuie the reprobate their short truce while God doth beare with them for when they shall promise vnto themselues securitie soudeine destruction shall come vpon them In the meane time let vs not abuse the long suffering of God while he deferreth his iudgement and if wee shall seeme to haue escaped one danger or if any holes offer themselues to hide vs let vs not therefore please our selues but rather let vs thinke uppon that saying of Ieremie That some ripe figges hauesome tast but other are reiected for their bitternesse 40 And Iosue smote c. Here againe is brought in the authoritie of God which dischargeth Iosue frō all note of crueltie for if he had raged without respect vpon his owne head against women and children none excuse would haue serued but that it had bene detestable crueltie the like whereof is not reade of no not in the sauage and almost beastlie nations But that which otherwise all men would abhorre we must reuerently embrace because it proceedeth from god Clemencie hath cheefe praise among vertues and worthily namely when men that haue bene hurt and which haue priuately iust cause to shed bloud doe moderate their wrath But because God had appointed the swordes of his people to slaie the Amorites Iosue could doe no other but obey his commandement Therefore by this voice not only the mouthes of all men are stopped but their mindes are also restrained that they steppe not forth to wrong iudgement If any man doe heare that Iosue siue all that came before him without respect although they threwe downe their weapons and humbly desired peace this bare and simple report woulde trouble quiet and peaceable mindes but when it is added As God commaunded it is no more lawfull to speake against it then when execution is done vppon wicked offenders And although in our iudgement at least wise the children and many women also were without fault let vs remember that the Court of heauen is not subiect to our lawes But rather when wee see that greene trees are so burnt wee that are drie wood ought to bee afraid of greater destruction And surely if euerie man do well examine himselfe he shall find him selfe worthie of an hundred deathes Why should not God then find iust matter of one death in an infant yet scarse come forth out of his mothers wombe In vaine truely should we trouble him with murmuring and grudging complaintes that he did throwe the issue of the cursed nation into the same destruction for when wee haue all saied the Potter hath still full and souereigne authoritie ouer his owne vessels or rather ouer the clay The last verse confirmeth that which I saied before that all the people had their abiding place in Gilgal the soldiers that went forth to the warre returned thither both to refreshe themselues from wearinesse and also to lay vp their praise in safetie For it was not meete that they should haue bene dispersed farre abroade till the lottes were cast which shewed where euery one shouldabide Chap. 11. ANd when Iabin King of Hazor had heard this then hee sent to Iobab King of Madon and to the King of Shimron and to the King of Achshaph 2 And vnto the Kinges that were by the North in the mountains and plaines towarde the Southside of Cinneroth and in the vallies and in the borders of Dor Westward 3 And vnto the Chanaanites both by East by West and vnto the Amorites and Hittites and Perizzites and Iebusites in the mountaines and vnto the Hiuites vnder Hermon in the land of Mizpeh 4 And they came out and all their hoastes with them many people as the sand that is on the Sea shoare for multitude with horses and charriots exceeding many 5 So all these Kinges met together and came and pitched together at the waters of Merom for to fight against Israel 6 Then the Lord saide vnto Ioshue Be not afraide for them for to morrowe about this time will I deliuer them all slaine before Israel Thou shalt hough their horses burne their charriots wtih fire 7 Then came Ioshue and all the men of warre with him against them by the waters of Merom soudeinly and fell vpon them 8 And the Lord gaue them into the hand of Israel and they smote them and chased them vnto great Sidon and vnto Misrephothmaim and vnto the vallie of Mizpeh Eastwarde and smote them vntill they had none remaining of them 9 And Ioshue did vnto them as the Lorde bade him hee houghed their horses and burnt their charriots with fire 10 At that time also Ioshue turned backe and tooke Hazor and smote the King thereof with the sworde for Hazor before time was the head of all those kingdomes 11 Moreouer they smote all the persons that were therin with the edge of the sworde vtterly destroying all leauing ' none aliue and he burnt Hazor with fire 12 So all the cities of those Kings and all the Kings of them did Ioshue take and smote them with the edge of the sworde and vtterly destroyed them as Moses the seruante of the Lorde had commaunded 13 But Israel burnt none of the cities that stoode still in their strength saue Hazor only that Ioshue burnt 14 And all the spoile of these cities and the cattell the children of Israel tooke for their praie but they smote euerie man with the edge of the sworde vntill they had destroyed them not leauing one aliue 1 When Iabin c. In this new conspiracie also doth shine the louing care of God more than fatherlie in preuenting the daungers of his seruantes and also his mercie and kindenesse in helping their infirmitie If Iabin with his confederates which are nowe mentioned had ioyned with the former Kinges the weight of the warre would haue lien more heauie vppon the Israelites and greater care and doubtfulnesse would haue troubled them Indeed it had bene as easie for God to haue ouerthrowen that huge armie all together and to haue
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
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
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
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