auenger of bloud vntill he stoode before the Congregation 1 And the Lorde spake c. Whereas it came not in their minde to appoint the cities of refuge vntill they were admonished againe it seemeth that their slacknesse is couertly reproued for this was decreed before by the commaundement of God beyond Iordan When the like and the verie same reason is here wherefore doe they staie why doe they not bring to an end that which they had well begonne considering that it was for great cause that innocent persons should haue safe places of refuge appointed them least the land should be defiled with bloud for except that remedie had bene vsed the kinsemen of them that were slaine by rashly reuenging their death would haue doubled the mischiefe Surely the people ought not to haue bene slacke in prouiding to auoyde that which might be a spot or defiling of the lande Whereby we may see how slowe men are not onely to doe their duetie but also to be carefull of their owne health except God did often pricke them foreward and prouoke them with the spurres of his exhortations Howbeit it appeareth by this that their offence was but of negligence that they are immediatly readie to obey and doe not prolong the matter nor hinder and staie so necessarie a busines with vnprofitable contentions But what was the lawe of these Sanctuaries we haue elsewhere declared For by them was no impunitie geuen to wilfull murders but if any man through error or chaunce had slaine a man that was not his enimie he had safe refuge vnto these cities which were appointed for the same purpose So God helped the poore wretches where they were without fault least they should haue suffered punishment vnworthily when they had committed no wicked facte In the meane time God of his clemencie graunted thus much to the brethren and kinsemen of them that were dead that their sorrowe shoulde not be increased by hauing them daily in their sight by whom they were depriued of their friendes Finally the people was accustomed to detest all manslaughter when such manslaiers as were acquitted of murder should be banished from their house and from their contrie vntill the death of the high priest For that temporall punishment did clearely shewe how pretious mans bloud is in the sight of god So the lawe both to the whole state and euerie priuate member was iust indifferent and profitable But we must note breefly that euerie point is not here sette forth in order For vppon this condition he that had slaine a man by chaunce might be preserued from danger if first he appered in iudgement to answer the cause and after it was throughly discussed and debated he were acquitted of murder as is more at large declared by Moses concerning this whole matter 7 And they appointed c. The verbe KADESH which here is set doeth signifie also To consecrate and appoint Wherefore I iudge that the citties were so chosen out as serued best for the common profite Whereby it is gathered that they did truely moderate themselues that priuate vtilitie gaue place to publique profite But in the next Chapter wee shall see that Kiriath-arba which afterward was called Hebron was translated to the Leuites whereas before it was vnder the dominion of Caleb Wherein the rare yea the incomparable continencie of that holy man appeared which willingly deliuered vp to other men as well the citie as the suburbes which he might well haue challenged to himselfe so soone as the lotte did shew that such was the pleasure of god And it was needefull briefly to touch this chaunge because God would haue the refuge to be only in the cities of the Leuites that their innocencie might be defended among them with more fidelitie and authoritie Chap. 21. THen came the principall fathers of the Leuites vnto Eleazar the Priest and vnto Ioshue the sonne of Nun and vnto the chiefe fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel 2 And spake vnto them at Shiloh in the land of Chanaan saying The Lorde commaunded by the hand of Moses to giue vs cities to dwell in with the suburbes thereof for our cattell 3 So the children of Israel gaue vnto the Leuites out of their inheritance at the commaundement of the Lord these cities with their suburbes 4 And the lotte came out for the families of the Kohathites and the children of Aaron the Priest which were of the Leuites had by lot out of the tribe of Iudah and out of the tribe of Simeon and out of the tribe of Beniamin thirteene cities 5 And the rest of the children of Kohath had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Ephraim and out of the tribe of Dan and out of the halfe tribe of Manasseh ten cities 6 Also the children of Gershon had by lot out of the families of the tribe of Issachar and out of the tribe of Asher and out of the tribe of Nepthalie and out of the halfe tribe of Manasseh in Bashan thirteene cities 7 The children of Merarie according to their families had out of the tribe of Ruben and out of the tribe of Gad and out of the tribe of Zebulun twelue cities 8 So the children of Israel gaue by lot vnto the Leuites these cities with their suburbes as the Lorde had commaunded by the hand of Moses 9 And they gaue out of the tribe of the children of Iudah and out of the tribe of the children of Simeon these cities whiche are here named 10 And they were the childrens of Aaron being of the families of the Kohathites and of the sonnes of Leui for theirs was the first lotte 11 So they gaue them Kiriath-arba of the father of Anok which is Hebron in the mountaine of Iudah with the suburbes of the same rounde about it 12 But the lande of the citie and the villages thereof gaue they to Caleb the sonne of Iephunneh to be his possession 13 Thus they gaue to the children of Aaron the Priest a citie of refuge for the slayer euen Hebron with her suburbes and Libnah with her suburbes 14 And Iattir with her suburbes and Eshtemoa and her suburbes 15 And Holon with her suburbes and Debir with her suburbes 16 And Ain with her suburbes and Iuttah with her suburbes Beth shemesh with her suburbes nine cities out of those two tribes 17 And out of the tribe of Beniamin they gaue Gibeon with her suburbes Geba with her suburbes 18 Anathoth with her suburbes and Almon with her suburbes foure cities 19 All the cities of the children of Aaron Priests were thirteene cities with their suburbes 1 Then came c. Here is declared afterward that which should haue gone before For the cities of refuge were not geuen before they were assigned to the Leuites As also we must remember that which was saied before that Iosue and Eleazer made an ende of diuiding the lande for the lande was not iustly diuided vntill the Leuites had their dwelling place appointed them
Therefore we must consider that when the lottes were cast in the name of the ten tribes certeine cities in the land of Chanaan were drawen out of euery portion in which the Leuites shoulde dwell For they had their portion alredie appointed them beyond Iordan But whereas the Leuites come and require that the gifte of God may be confirmed that they might possesse their cities with their suburbes it is like they were neglected vntill they pleaded their owne cause For so it falleth out commonly while euery man is busie to prouide for him selfe they forgette their brethren Surely it was a shame for the people to be pulled by the eare and to be brought in remembraunce of that which God had so plainly commaunded concerning the Leuites And yet if they had not spoken earnestly for a house they were in daunger to haue lien abroade in the fieldes Although we may easily gather that the people offended rather of negligence and forgetfulnesse than of purpose to defraud them for they make no delay as soone as they are admonished yea their obedience is praised that according to the worde of the Lorde they performed that which was equall and right 4 And the lotte c. Here is set foorth the number of the cities whereof must be spoken soone after Secondly here is plainely expressed that the lot of the sonnes of Aaron fell in the tribe of Iuda which happened not by chance for God by his meruellous counsell placed them in that seate where he had appointed his Temple to be builded Thirdly the names of the cities are rehearsed whereof Hebron is the first which Caleb suffered to be taken from him with a good will. If any man obiect that Hierusalem should haue bene especially geuen them where they should haue their lawefull abiding place the answere is easie that small and meane cities were deliuered to them such as their state required Moreouer Hierusalem was not yet recouered for the Iebusites had it in possession Finally it had bene against reason that the seate of the kingdome should haue bene appointed to the Priestes And in this their faith and religion was better approued that they went willingly out of their natiue countrie to doe their duetie about the holy affaires For no Priest did his office there but he was aforeigner dwelt in some other place But yet their infirmitie was borne withall when they were rewarded with cities that were neere about least it should be troublesome to them to take along iourney to doe their office But whereas one onely familie and that not verie populous had thirteene cities graunted for their habitation hereof is confirmed that I haue noted elsewhere that the other tribes had manie cities vnder their dominion whereof here is no mention and that shal be confirmed more certeinly soone after 20 But to the families of the children of Kohath of the Leuits which were the rest of the children of Kohath for the cities of their lot were out of the tribe of Ephraim 21 They gaue them the citie of refuge for the slaier Shechem with her suburbes in mount Ephraim and Gezer with her suburbes 22 And Kibzaim with her suburbes and Beth-horon with her suburbes foure cities 23 And out of the tribe of Dan Eltkeh with her suburbes Gibethon with her suburbes 24 Aiialon with her suburbes Gath-rimmon with her suburbes foure cities 25 And out of the halfe tribe of Manasseh Tanach with her suburbes and Gath-rimmon with her suburbes two cities 26 All the cities for the other families of the children of Kohath were ten with their suburbes 27 Also vnto the children of Gershon of the families of the Leuites they gaue out of the halfe tribe of Manasseh the citie of refuge for the slaier Golan in Bashan with her suburbes and Beeshterah with her suburbes two cities 28 And out of the tribe of Issachar Kis-hon with her suburbs Dabereh with her suburbes 29 Iarmuth with her suburbes En-gannim with her suburbes foure cities 30 And out of the tribe of Asser Mishal with her suburbes Abdon with her suburbes 31 Helkoh with her suburbes and Rehob with her suburbes foure cities 32 And out of the tribe of Naphtali the citie of refuge for the slaier Kedesh in Galil with her suburbes and Hammoth-dor with her suburbes and Kartan with her suburbes three cities 33 All the cities of the Gershonites according to their families were thirteene cities with there suburbes 34 Also vnto the families of the children of Merari the rest of the Leuites they gaue out of the tribe of Zebulun Iokneam with her suburbes and Cartah with her suburbes 35 Dimnah with her suburbes Nahalal with her suburbes foure cities 36 And out of the tribe of Ruben Bezer with her suburbes and Iahazah with her suburbes 37 Kedemoth with her suburbes and Mephaath with her suburbes foure cities 38 And out of the tribe of Gad they gaue for a citie of refuge for the slaier Ramoth in Gilead with her suburbes and Mahanaim with her suburbes 39 Heshbon with her suburbes and Iazer with her suburbes foure cities in all 40 So all the cities of the children of Merari according to their families which were the rest of the families of the Leuites were by their lot twelue cities 41 And all the cities of the Leuites within the possession of the children of Israel were eight and fourtie with their suburbes 42 These cities lay euerie one seuerally with their suburbes round about them so were all these cities 43 So the Lorde gaue vnto Israel all the land which he had sworne to giue vnto their fathers and they possessed it and dwelt therein 44 Also the Lorde gaue them rest round about according to all that he had sworne vnto their fathers and there stoode not a man of all their enimies before them for the Lord deliuered all their enimies into their hand 45 There failed nothing of all the good thinges which the Lorde had said vnto the house of Israel but all came to passe 20 But to the families of the sonnes of Kahath c. For what cause it behoued the Leuites to be dispersed into euerie tribe let the reader seeke in Moses Indeed this punishment was laied vppon their father for the vnfaithfulnesse and crueltie which he practised against the Sichemites But in steede of reproch this dispersion was turned into their exceeding great honour that they being placed as watchmen in euerie region might keepe the people in the pure worship of god They were indeede but as tenantes in euerie place but with so great dignitie as ouerseers appointed by God to take heed that the people should not fall away from true godlinesse This is the reason why it is reported so diligently how many cities fell vnto them in euerie tribe that they might be alwayes as watchmen to preserue the purenesse of religion amongst them 41 All the cities of the Leuites c. This place especially doeth teach that which I haue touched once or twise before that the boundes
of Gods worship but because the weakenesse of men must be aided with such healpes the better to prepare and stirre vp them selues to reuerence And euen as God by his presence doeth sanctifie those places in whiche he appeareth so I thinke that the excellencie of the lande of Chanaan is set foorth with this commendation that God had chosen himselfe a seate there in whiche he woulde be purely worshipped Wherevpon it is coÌ„monly called his test In the ende of the verse the obedience of Iosue is praised that the posteritie may learne to exercise godlinesse in that lande holily and deuoutly after his example So there seemeth to be a secrete comparison or opposition which doth extoll the lande of Chanaan aboue other regions Chap. 6. NOW Iericho was shut vp and closed because of the children of Israel none might goe out nor enter in 2 And the Lorde said vnto Ioshua Beholde I haue geuen into thine hande Iericho and the king thereof and the strong men of warre 3 All ye therefore that be men of warre shall compasse the citie in going round about the citie once thus shall you doe sixe dayes 4 And seuen Priestes shall beare seuen trumpets of Rammes hornes before the Arke and the seuenth day ye shall compasse the citie seuen times and the Priestes shall blowe with the trumpets 5 And when they make a long blast with the Rammes hornes and ye heare the sounde of the trumpet all the people shall shoute with a great shoute then shall the wall of the Citie fall downe flat and the people shall ascende vp euerie man streight before him 6 Then Ioshua the sonne of Nun called the Priestes and saide vnto them Take vp the Arke of the couenaunt and let seuen Priestes beare seuen trumpets of Rammes hornes before the Arke of the Lorde 7 But he saide vnto the people Goe and compasse the Citie and let him that is armed goe foorth before the Arke of the Lorde 8 And when Ioshua had spoken vnto the people the seuen Priestes bare the seuen trumpets of Rammes hornes and went foorth before the Arke of the Lorde and blewe with the trumpets and the Arke of the couenaunt of the Lorde followed them 9 And the men of armes went before the Priestes that blewe the trumpets then the gathering host came after the Arke as they went and blewe the trumpets 10 Now Ioshua had commaunded the people saying Yee shall not shoute neither make any noyse with your voyce neither shall a woorde proceede out of your mouth vntill the day that I say vnto you Shoute then shall all ye shoute 11 So the Arke of the Lorde compassed the citie and went about it once then they returned into the host and lodged in the campe 12 And Ioshua rose early in the morning and the Priestes bare the Arke of the Lorde 13 Also seuen Priestes bare seuen trumpets of Rams hornes and went before the Arke of the Lorde and going blewe with the trumpets and the men of armes went before them but the gathering host came after the Arke of the Lorde as they went and blewe the trumpets 14 And the seconde day they compassed the citie once and returned into the host thus they did sixe dayes 15 And when the seuenth day came they rose early euen with the dawning of the day and compassed the citie after the same maner seuen times onely that day they compassed the citie seuen times 16 And when the Priestes had blowen the trumpâ—â—s the seuenth time Ioshua saide vnto the people Shoute for the Lord hath geuen you the citie 17 And the citie shal be an execrable thing both it and all that are therein vnto the Lorde onely Rahab the harlot shall liue she and all that are with her in the house for she hid the messengers that we sent 18 Notwithstanding be ye warie of the execrable thing least ye make your selues execrable and in taking of the execrable thing make also the host of Israel execrable and trouble it 19 But all siluer and golde and vesselles of brasse and yron shal be consecrate vnto the Lorde and shall come into the Lordes treasurie 1 Iericho was shut c. He saith that Iericho was shut vp because the gates were not opened as in time of warre Cities are kept more diligently than at other times And for greater vehemencie he addeth that the gates were locked as if he shoulde say That the Citizens were diligent to keepe watche and warde least they shoulde be surprised vnawares So there was no way to take it except it were by violence of assault for by policie it coulde not be taken This setteth foorth the grace of God because along and painefull seege woulde haue wearied the children of Israel except present remedie had bene speedily shewed out of Heauen For in the meane time there was great danger least they being driuen into a narrowe corner might be consumed with famine and hunger because it was not possible to haue prouision of victualles in their enimies lande God therefore aideth them with an vnwoonted miracle that they shoulde not linger long at one Citie and ouerthrowing the walles maketh an open breache for them to enter that they might be the bolder to assault other Cities afterwarde Nowe we see how the two first verses agree together namely that Iericho was shut vp and so the children of Israel were kept out from entering thereinto and that God promised that he would take the Citie by assault himselfe for that by this meanes he woulde preuent them that they shoulde not trouble themselues by doubtfull deliberation To be short God prouideth by this so happie beginning so easie victorie that their heartes shoulde not faint in time to come In the meane time we may note the brutish dullnesse of that people which thought that their walles and gates were able to resist the power of God as though it were an harder matter to breake and dissolue a fewe boordes and stones than to drie vp the waters of Iordan 3 You shall compasse c. The promise in deede of it selfe was sufficient and of force to make them hope for victorie but the maner of the doing whiche was appointed seemed so ridiculous that it tooke away the credit of the promise God commaundeth that they shoulde compasse the Citie rounde about euery day vntill the seuenth day and that day he biddeth them to compasse it seuen times to blowe the trumpets and to shout all whiche was nothing else but to play like children But it was a goodly matter that their faith was proued by this triall that while in the thing it selfe they sawe nothing but a deceiuing of their hope yet they might neuerthelesse stay themselues in the oracle of God for which purpose he doth often hide his power for a season vnder infirmitie and seemeth to play with vaine trifles that at the length his weakenes may appeare stronger than all power and his foolishnes may shine aboue all wisdome So when the Israelites bidding
she had also they brought out all her familie and put them without the host of Israel 24 After they burnt the citie with fire and all that was therein onely the siluer and the golde and the vesselles of brasse and yron they put vnto the treasure of the house of the Lord. 25 So Ioshua saued Rahab the harlot and her fathers housholde and all that she had and she dwelt in Israel euen vnto this day because she had hid the messengers which Ioshua sent to spie out Iericho 26 And Ioshua sware at that time saying Cursed be the man before the Lord that riseth vp and buildeth this citie Iericho he shall lay the foundation therof in his eldest sonne and in his yongest sonne shall he set vp the gates of it 27 So the Lord was with Ioshua and he was famous through all the worlde 20 So the people shouted c. Here the obedience of the people is praised and also the trueth of GOD is magnified They testified their faith by their shouting being persuaded that they were not commanded to doe so in vaine and GOD suffereth them not to loose their labour but fulfilleth in art that which he promised by his worde The other vertue was not inferiour to this that despising the vnlawfull gaine they willingly destroyed all the spoile of the citie For no doubt but many thought in them selues on this maner Why will GOD haue so great riches to bee cast away Why doeth he enuie vs to enioy those thinges which he hath deliuered into our handes Why doeth he not rather rewarde vs with it that we might haue occasion to geue him thankes But letting all reasons passe that might hinder them from doing their duâ—tie they doe willingly cast away all the spoile which they had in their handes euen the riches of an whole citie which was a token of care and excellent continencie That they slue all the people without respect of age or sexe both women and children young and olde it might seeme to bee a cruell murther but that GOD him selfe commanded it so to bee done But because he in whose power are life and death had iustly condemned those nations vnto destruction let all argument and disputation cease Adde herevnto that he had borne with them foure hundred yaeres alreadie vntill their iniquitie were come to the full Who shoulde now complaine of immoderate rigour when God suspendeth his iudgement so long If any man will obiect That yet at the least the young infantes were free from offence the answeare is readie Because they were a cursed and a reprobate broade they were iuâ—â—ly destroyed This in deed we must confesse that it had bene extreame and barbarous crueltie if the Israelites following their owne rage and furie had slaine the tender infantes with their mothers but now it is accompted godly and laudable fortiâ—â—de and defended to be a holy zeale while they execute the commaundement of God which woulde haue the lande of Chanaan whiche long time had bene corrupted with foule and stinking filthinesse in this sort to be purged 22 Iosue saide to the two men c. How faithfull and vpright Iosue was to keepe promise appeareth by this carefulnesse but because the whole citie was subiect to the curse the question may be moued of the exception of one familie For it was not lawfull for a mortall man to chaunge any thing in the sentence of god But because Rahab had couenanted for her safegard by inspiration of Gods spirite I iudge that Iosue in preseruing her did nothing but wisely with good consideration Moreouer the messengers at that time were not tied with any religion because GOD had not yet pronounced his pleasure concerning the destruction of the Citie For they had hearde generally that all those nations were to be destroyed yet was it free for them to make a couenant with one woman which willingly departed and fell away from her owne countriemen Although a more readie answeare will followe soone after namely while by the commaundement of God the Israelites exhorted all men against whom they came to yeelde them selues vpon hope of pardon but they blinded with stubbornesse refused the peace that was offered because God determined to destroy them all when all the rest were manifestly hardened vnto their owne destruction it followeth that Rahab was exempted by priuiledge that when the rest perished she might be preserued Wherefore Iosue did wisely consider that this woman which willingly remoued into the Churche of God not without the peculiar grace of God was deliuered in time from the destruction In deede the case of her father and her whole familie was not lâ—â—e but seeing they did all willingly renounce their former state by promptnesse of obedience they confirmed that preseruation which Rahab couenanted for them But by the example of Iosue let vs learne that although we doe not maliciously and of set purpose breake our faith and promise yet that is not sufficient to testifie our honestie except we geue all diligence to perfourme suche couenantes as we haue made For he doeth not onely suffer Rahab to be saued by her ghestes but he taketh heede in time that at the first tumult she suffer no iniurie and that they might be more redie to doe their duetie he putteth them in minde that they were bound to it by oth 23 So the spies entered c. No doubt but God woulde haue them to be saued whose mindes he bended so willingly to imbrace their deliuerance Or else they would haue cast her off no lesse proudly nor with lesse scorne than the two sonnes in lawe of Lot did But they are muche better prouided for while they are set without the host so by straight charge are called to the deniall of their former life For if they had bene immediately admitted and ioyned vnto the people perhaps they would neuer haue thought of their vncleannesse and so might haue bene frosen in it Now when they be placed apart least they shoulde infecte the congregation with their uncleannesse they are stricken with shame which might moue them to earnest repentaunce For it is not to be thought that they were remoued into a place of safetie least any of the people should haue violently risen against them for they should haue bene receiued with great fauour and gratulation of all men but in the solitarie place they were more subiect to hurt Wherefore by this separation their former vncleannesse was set before their eyes least they being defiled shoulde rashly rushe into the holie assemblie but rather by this rudiment shoulde be taught to chaunge their former life For it followeth soone after that they dwelt in the middest of the people for when they were purged from their vncleannesse they began to be taken none otherwise than if they had bene descended from the stocke of Abraham Finally it signifieth that after they had confessed them selues to haue liued before in filthinesse they were admitted indifferently with the rest And by
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
are at Kiriath baal which is Kiriath-iearim a citie of the children of Iudah this is the Westquarter 15 And the Southquarter is from the end of Kiriath-iearim and this border goeth out Westward commeth to the fountaine of waters of Nephtoah 16 And this border descendeth at the end of the mountaine that lieth before the vallie of Ben-hinnom which is in the vallie of the Giantes Northward and descendeth into the vallie of Hinnom by the side of Iebusi Southward and goeth downe to Enrogel 17 And compasseth from the North and goeth forth to Enshemesh and stretcheth to Geliloth which is toward the going vp vnto Adummim and goeth downe to the stone of Bohan the sonne of Ruben 18 So it goeth along to the side ouer against the plaine Northward and goeth downe into the plaine 19 After this border goeth along to the side of Beth-hoglah Northward and the ends thereof that is of the border reache to the point of the salt Sea Northward and to the end of Iordan Southward this is the Southcoast 20 Also Iordan is the border of it on the Eastside this is the inheritance of the children of Beniamin by the coastes thereof round about according to their families 21 Now the cities of the tribe of the children of Beniamin according to their families are Iericho and Beth-hoglah and the vallie of Keziz 22 And Beth-arabah and Zemaraim and Beth-el 23 And Auim and Parah and Ophrah 24 And Chephar Ammonai and Ophni and Gaba twelue cities with their villages 25 Gibeon and Ramah and Bee roth 26 And Mizpeh and Chephirah and Mozah 27 And Rekem and Irpeel and Taralah 28 And Zela Eleph Iebusi which is Hierusalem Gibeath and Kiriath fourteene cities with their villages this is the inheritance of the children of Beniamin according to their families In the lot of Beniamin there falleth out nothing greatly needfull to be noted but that it being a litle tribe is preferred before others I confesse indeed that in respect of the fewnesse of the people it was shutte vp within narrowe borders for it obteined but sixe and twentie cities yet was this an honourable thing of it selfe to receiue their inheritaunce before other more populous tribes Adde herevnto that by this meanes they were made neighbours borderers vpon the sonnes of Ioseph with whom they were next of kin For they were placed in the middest betweene Ephraim and Manasse on the one parte and the tribe of Iuda on the other parte This was also a singular honour that among other cities Hierusalem also fell to their lot so that afterward they might graunt it as it were by licence to the sonnes of Iuda to be the seate of the kingdome But seeing they obteined so quiet a dwelling place it is meruell they lead not a quiet life in all humanitie and gentlenesse with their neighbors But we remember the prophesie of Iacob Beniamin is a rauening wolfe In the morning he shall rauish the prey at euen he shall diuide the spoile Wherefore it seemeth that either they were too couetous seditious by naturâ— or else they were driuen by some necessitie which at this day is vnknowne to vs to geue them selues to spoyling As touching the citie Luz the other name is added This is Bethel because that name which was geuen to it by the Patriarch Iacob was there receiued in vse and custome Not farre off was Beth-auen whose name because it was infamous and reprochfull was translated to Bethel her selfe after it was corrupted and defiled with vngodly superstitions It is like that Kiriath-baal was called Kiriath-ieharim that the name of the idol might be taken away which had bene a spotte in true godlinesse if it had remained And surely it had bene a foule and shamefull thing that such a patrone as was enimie to the onely GOD should haue bene spoken of in the peoples mouth Chap. 19. AND the second lot came out to Simeon euen for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families and their inheritance was in the middest of the inheritance of the children of Iudah 2 Nowe they had in their inheritance Beersheba and Sheba and Moladah 3 And Hazar-shual and Balah and Azem 4 And Eltolad and Bethul and Hormah 5 And Ziklag and Beth-marcaboth and Hazar-susah 6 And Bethlebaoth and Sharuben thirteene cities with their villages 7 Ain Emmon and Ether and Ashan foure cities with their villages 8 And all the villages that were round about these cities vnto Baalath-beer and Ramath Southward this is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families 9 Out of the portion of the children of Iudah came the inheritance of the children of Simeon for the parte of the children of Iudah was too much for them therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within their inheritance Next followeth the tribe of Simeon not so much for honours sake as for a note of reproch Iacob had pronounced of Simeon and Leui I will disperse them scatter them In deede the penaltie of Leui was not onely mitigated but also turned into an excellent dignitie because his posteritie were placed as it were in a watch-towre to keepe the people in their duetie of godlinesse and religion But as touching Simeon that certeine cities were geuen to his posteritie within the borders of Iuda this was a manifest dispersion whereof Iacob had prophesied Although they were not cast a sunder into places farre distant yet were they but as tenantes and dispersed when they dwelled within the soyle of an other tribe Therefore for that slaughter which they committed with no lesse vnfaithfulnesse than crueltie they were separated into diuers lodgings By this meanes the offence of their father was cast into the bosome of his sonnes and that sentence which God deliuered to his seruant he did execute indeede Also the trueth of the lotte was clerely approued But whereas a portion is taken away from the tribe of Iuda we se againe that although the ouerseers of the diuision determined most wisely to keepe equitie yet they were deceiued with an errour which they were not ashamed to correct as soone as it was found out And it is no absurditie that although they were ruled by the spirit of God yet they were deceiued in some parte because God sometimes withdraweth from his seruantes the spirit of iudgement and suffereth them to doe one thing or other like men that they should not triumph too much in their exceeding great wisedome Adde herevnto that the people were iustly punished for their negligence and carelesse hastinesse because they should from the beginning haue better discussed what right belonged to euerie one which thing they neglected A large dominion was vnskilfully assigned without discretion vnto the tribe of Iudah whereof equitie constrained them afterward to appoint some part for other tribes Howbeit it had ben better that their certeine limits had bene set downe at the first than afterward to haue some
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
demanded how Caleb was so bolde to promise his daughter before he knew how her affection stoode For although it be the duâ—tie of parentes to geue foorth their daughters in marriage yet they are not allowed suche Tyrannicall rule ouer them that they may marrie them to what husbandes they list without knowing their minde and affection to them For when all contracts ought to be voluntarie in marriage especially there ought to be libertie that no man be constrained to binde his faith against his will. But Caleb was lead with a likelie reason that he doubted not of the consent of his daughter because she could not with shamefastnes refuse so honorable a condition for such a husband was geuen her as was not one of the base multitude but one that excelled al the rest in praise of warlike vertue Albeiâ— it may be that Caleb in the heate of the battell did promise vnaduisedly that which was not in his authoritie altogether to performe yet I thinke the couenant must be expounded according to common righâ— which is so that the good will of the maide were obteined Surely God heard the with of Caleb while he offered him a sonne in Law according to his heartes desire for if he had had free choyce there was no man whom he would more haue wished 18 And it came to passe when she came c. Although we may well thinke that Achsa was a maiden indued with excellent manners and well brought vp whose marriage was promised to the conquerer in place of a singular rewarde yet here is bewrayed her vnlawfull desire and couetous affection She knew that women by the Lawe of God were excluded from the inheritaunce of landes yet neuerthelesse the coueteth and pricketh forward her husband with vniust expostulation For so ambitious and couetous wiues cease not to trouble their husbandes till they compell them to forget all shame modestie and equitie For although the couetousnesse of men also is vnsatiable yet women are carried more headlong into that vice Wherefore all husbandes ought to take heede more diligently that by their importunate counsells they be not kindled to couetousnesse as it were with bellowes But greater disorder bewrayeth it selfe in her when through the gentlenesse of her husband and indulgence of her father she waxeth bolder For not being content with the land that was geuen her she requireth a grounde that is well watered So when one hath passed the measure of right honestie that vice is by and by accompanied with impudencie But whereas her father denied her nothing it is a signe that he loued her tenderly But thereof it followeth not but that the vngratious couetousnesse of lucre is worthie to be hated which blindeth our mindes and peruerteth our right iudgement Where it is said that Achsa allighted from her Asse some referre it to crafte and dissimulation as though she feâ—l downe for greefe and so her fall was a signe of swooning or failing of her heart but it is more simple to think that she fell downe at her fathers feete the more humbly to entreate him Howe so euer it was the woman by crafte and flatterie procured to her selfe the right of other men whereby the portions of her brethren were diminished 20 This is the inheritaunce c. Before he compassed the boundes of the children of Iuda but now after an other manner is declared how large and fruitfull a countrie befelâ— to them in which also the great liberalitie of God towardes them is commended There are numbered a hundred thirtene cities with their townes and villages which number doeth testifie not onely the multitude of men but also the fruitfulnesse of the lande And yet there is no doubt but that a new fruitfulnesse was geuen vnto it by the blessing of god And yet in the verie nature of the land it behoued the grace of God to shine while he chose a countrie for his people replenished with all abundance of good thinges Now if we looke to the men of the tribe halfe that region would haue serued them abundantly for their habitation For if eight hundred were diuided into euerie citie the towns villages remained for the rest of the multitude And certeinly soone after a portion was taken out which was geuen to the tribe of Simeon For so was fulfilled the dispersion whereof Iacob did prophesie that the posteritie of Simeon should be as a straunger in another mans ground Therefore they were admitted as ghestes by the children of Iuda 63 But the Iebusites c. This maketh nothing for excuse of the people neither is it set downe for that ende for if they had endeuoured to the vttermost of their power and had bene destitute of successe the reproch had fallen vppon God him selfe which had promised that he would be their Capteine continually till he had deliuered them the lande voide of their enimies and that he would send hornettes or waspes which shoulde driue away the inhabitantes Therefore it was onely through their owne slouthfulnesse and cowardlinesse that they obteined not the cittie of Hierusalem They could not therefore because slouth would not let them while through desire of quietnesse they neglected the commaundement of god A place worthie to be noted that we may learne to bend all our force cheerefully to accomplish that which God commaundeth and to omitte no occasion lest if we loyter the gate be shut vp against vs If they had deferred it but a shorte time they should not haue bene reprehended but the negligence and dastardlinesse of so long time did after a sorte reiect and driue backe the blessing of God. Chap. 16. AND the lot fell to the children of Ioseph from Iordan by Iericho vnto the water of Iericho Eastwarde and to the wildernesse that goeth vp from Iericho by the mount Bethel 2 And goeth out from Beth-el to Luz and runneth along vnto the borders of Archiataroth 3 And goeth downe Westward to the coast of Iaphleti vnto the coast of Beth-horon the nether and to Gezer and the endes thereof are at the Sea. 4 So the children of Ioseph Manasseh and Ephraim tooke their inheritance 5 Also the borders of the children of Ephraim according to their families euen the borders of their inheritance on the East-side were Atroth-addar vnto Beth-horon the vpper 6 And this border goeth out to the Sea vnto Micmethah on the Northside and this border returneth Eastwarde vnto Taanath-shiloh and passeth it on the Eastside vnto Ianoha 7 And goeth downe from Ianoha to Ataroth and Naarath and commeth to Iericho and goeth out at Iordan 8 And this border goeth from Tappuah Westwarde vnto the riuer Kanah and the endes thereof are at the Sea this is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Ephraim by their families 9 And the separate cities for the children of Ephraim were among the inheritance of the children of Manasseh all the cities with their villages 10 And they cast not out the Chanaanite that dwelt in
Gezer but the Chanaanite dwelleth among the Ephraimites vnto this day and serue vnder tribute 1 And the lotte c. First he telleth generally what lotte fell to the two sonnes of Ioseph afterwardes he rehearseth the lotte of Ephraim And it is maxuell seeing halfe the tribe of Manasse was alreadie placed beyond Iordan yet more wordes are spent about the other parte which remained than about all the tribe of Ephraim which as it was more populous so it did iustly challenge a larger ground but that the speech is longer about the posteritie of Manasse it commeth by occasion because the author of the booke doeth repeate againe how they had a place appointed them without casting of lots in the land of Basan Afterward he reherseth that that was confirmed by Iosue which Moses by authoritie of God coÌ„manded concerning the daughters of Selophad Therefore when there was no doubt of the bounds of Ephraim neither should there be any strife about them their lotte is breefly set forth But here ariseth a newe question seeing the right of the first begotten was passed from Manasse to Ephraim how the posteritie of him which was higher in degree of honour obteined their citties among the children of Manasse For by this meanes their state seemeth to be inferiour vnto them But I doe so interprete it that when the portion of Manasse was larger than according to the number of the men when iust accompt was made certeine cities were withdrawen which made vp the iust portion of the â—ribe of Ephraim not that they should dwell intermixed as it were by licence of the children of Manasse but because their borders were extended further toward them whom a sâ—anter possession might suffice But in the end of the Chapter the slouth and cowardise of the tribe of Ephraim is noted with inâ—amie for that he draue not out the Chanaanite out of Gaza for if they had gone forward manfully and wisely to challenge the land which was fallen vnto them by lot the victorie was in their hande for they should haue attempted nothing rashly because the casting of lottes was as good as if God had reached forth his hand out of heauen But their shamefull slouthfulnes is more clearely expressed and their fault augmented because they made them tributaries with whome it was not lawfull to enter into any couenant Therefore when God had expressely forbidden his people to make any contract with those nations and specially to coâ—enant with them for pardon and life the children of Ephraim did more greeuously offend than if they had suffered them without any couenant Chap. 17. THis was also the lotte of the tribe of Manasseh for he was the first borne of Ioseph to wit of Machir the first borne of Manasseh and the father of Gilead now becase he was a man of warre he had Gilead Bashan 2 And also of the rest of the sonnes of Manasseh by their families euen of the sonnes of Abiezer and of the sonnes of Helek and of the sonnes of Azriel and of the sonnes of Shechem and of the sonnes of Hepher and of the sonnes of Shemida these were the males of Manassah the sonne of Ioseph according to their families 3 But Zelophehad the sonne of Hepher the sonne of Gilead the sonne of Machir the sonne of Manasseh had no sonnes but daughters and these are the names of his daughters Malhah and Noah Hoglah Milchah and Tirzah 4 Which came before Eleazar the Priest and before Iosâ—ue the sonne of Nun before the Princes saying The Lord commanded Moses to geue vs an inheritance among our brethren â–ª therefore according to the commaundement of the Lord hee gaue them an inheritaunce among the brethren of their father 5 And there fell tenne portions to Manasseh beside the land of Gilead and Bashan whiche is on the otherside Iordan 6 Because the daughters of Manasseh did inherite among his sonnes and Manassehs other sonnes had the land of Gilead 7 So the borders of Manasseh were from Asher to Micmethah that lieth before Shechem and this border goeth on the right hand euen vnto the inhabitantes of Entappuah 8 The land of Tappuah belonged to Manasseh but Tappuah beside the border of Manasseh belongeth to the sonnes of Ephraim 9 Also this border goeth downe vnto the riuer Kanah Southwarde to the riuer these cities of Ephraim are among the cities of Manasseh and the border of Manasseh is on the Northside of the riuer and the ends of it are at the Sea. 10 The South perteineth to Ephraim and the North to Manasseh and the Sea is his border and they mette together in Asher Northwarde and in Issachar Eastward He returneth againe to the tribe of Manasse especially to confirme that which wee sawe before of the daughters of Selophehad For it beeing a straunge matter that women should succeede indifferently with men yet because there was fiue of them left by their father they proued that it was meete that left their father without his desert should be punished as one that died childlesse it was meete that they should be receiued into his portion So God by an oracle had geuen answeare vnto Moses that they should make one head in succession Now they require that the same may be to them perfourmed which was adiudged by the mouth of god That Manasse doeth still reteine the name of the first begotten wee ought to take it so that it be not repugnant to the prophesie of Iacob for rather his birthright is here after a manner buried and his dignitie restrained vnto the time passed Where it is to be noted that men are such holdfastes and addict vnto their owne profites that it seldome commeth in their mindes to yeeld to other men their right The daughters of Selophehad by an heauenly decree had obceined a portion neither was there any man that durst say a worde against it But for all that if they had held their peace there had bene none accompt made of them Therfore lest lingering should be hurtfull to them they come to Iosue Eleazar vrge them that they be not depriued of their lawfull inheritance And Iosue maketh no delay but that they may obteine immediately that which is iust and right Neither doe the people murmur at it Wherevpon wee gather that they were all well inclined to equitie but while euery man is carefull for his owne they doe too much neglecte others of whom they ought to haue regarde 5 And ten inheritances c. In this place are numbred seuen stockes or houses in the posteritie of Manasse Machir his eldest sonne is placed by himselfe Now it is demanded how the inheritance was diuided into tenne partes Some interpreters doe craftily make as though they sawe not this doubt other because they cannot lose the knot inuent verie trifling expositions Surely it were against all reson that foure lots were geuen to fiue daughters And it is no more agreable to truth that because their father was the eldest therfore they