A commentary of M. John Calvin, upon the book of Joshua finished a little…A commentarie of M. Iohn Caluine, vpon the booke of Iosue finished a little…

7 Then you may answer, &c. Although the stones speak not of them selves, yet the monument of them giveth the parents matter of speech, to testify unto their children what the benefit of God was. And in this place are the elder sort charged to set forward the study of godliness, and to take pains in the instruction of their children. For God would have this doctrine to be delivered, as it were from hand to hand, through out all ages: that they which were not yet borne yet being instructed by there parents, might be witnesses of that which they had had heard: although they saw not the thing with their own eyes. And according to the number of the tribes, the stones were set up, that every tribe by their own token might be stirred up to thankfulness. In deed the two tribes and the half, whose inheritance was allotted to them, on the other side of Jordan, had no need of that passage for their own parts. But because the land of Canaan ⟨p. 18⟩was possessed to the common benefit of the whole stock of Abraham, it was not meet that some of them should have been severed from the rest, seeing there was a common cause pertaining to them all. And although hitherto there is no mention made but of these twelve men, yet by this clause it appeareth, that the commandment was given to all the people, because it is said, that the children of Israel were obedient unto the words of Joshua. It is like also, that they were chosen by voices, which should carry these stones in the name of all the rest.

7 Then you may answeare, &c. Although the stones speake not of them selues, yet the monument of them geueth the parents matter of speach, to testifie vnto their children what the benefite of God was. And in this place are the elder sort charged to set forward the studie of godlinesse, and to take paines in the instruction of their children. For God would haue this doctrine to be deliuered, as it were from hand to hand, through out all ages: that they which were not yet borne yet beeing instructed by ther parentes, might be witnesses of that which they had had hearde: although they sawe not the thing with their owne eyes. And acording to the number of the tribes, the stones were set vp, that euerie tribe by their owne token might be stirred vp to thankfulnesse. In deed the two tribes and the halfe, whose inheritance was allotted to them, on the other side of Iordan, had no neede of that passage for their owne partes. But because the lande of Chanaan ⟨p. 18⟩