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…

12 Also the children of Reuben, &c.) He maketh special mention of the passage of these two tribes and half: because they went not on this warfare for their own private cause: but that they might help their brethren to the possession of the land of Canaan: by whose manhood they had obtained their portions on the other side of Jordan. This condition Moses had charged them withal, and they had bound them selves by an oath, that they would accompany the rest of the people, until they had all obtained a quiet resting place to inhabit. The same promise they renewed (as we saw in the first Chapter) when the camp should remove. But of that which is here told, we gather, that only a part of them was chosen out of the rest. For here are mustered but only forty thousand men, namely, the third part, or there about, of them that were mustered not long before. But seeing in all places, they are said to have fulfilled their promise, it is like that the purpose of Moses was not, that all they which were mustered, should leave their wives and children, and go a warfare into the land of Canaan, until it were throughly subdued. And surely, it had been an hard matter, and a cruel point, to have forsaken the weak multitude, without leaving some to defend them, being compassed about with many hateful nations. Neither would the remnants of their enemies, with the aid of the nations adjoining, have omitted so great an occasion, but they would surely have revenged them selves in killing the women and children. Wherefore it was necessary, that a sufficient garrison was left in the country, not yet quietly possessed, to keep out the invasions of their enemies. Neither was Moses so extreme, but that he would have regard of those poor wretches. Moreover, such was his wisdom and equity, that he would never have spoiled, of all defence, that country, which he had so lately conquered with force of arms. Hereto we may join this reason, that the concourse of such a multitude, would rather have been an hinderance than an aid in conquering the land of Canaan.

12 Also the children of Ruben, &c.) He maketh speciall mention of the passage of these two tribes and halfe: because they went not on this warfare for their owne priuate cause: but that they might helpe their brethren to the possession of the lande of Chanaan: by whose manhood they had obteined their portions on the other side of Iordan. This condition Moses had charged them withall, and they had bounde them selues by an othe, that they would accompanie the rest of the people, vntill they had all obteined a quiet resting place to inhabit. The same promise they renewed (as we saw in the first Chapter) when the campe should remoue. But of that which is here tolde, we gather, that onely a part of them was chosen out of the rest. For here are mustered but onely fourtie thousand men, namely, the third part, or there about, of them that were mustered not long before. But seeing in all places, they are saide to haue fulfilled their promise, it is like that the purpose of Moses was not, that all they which were mustered, should leaue their wiues and children, and goe a warfare into the lande of Chanaan, vntill it were throughly subdued. And surely, it had bene an hard matter, and a cruell pointe, to haue forsaken the weake multitude, without leauing some to defend them, being compassed about with many hatefull nations. Neither would the remnants of their enimies, with the aid of the nations adioyning, haue omitted so great an occasion, but they would surely haue reuenged them selues in killing the women and children. Wherfore it was necessarie, that a sufficient garrison was leaft in the countrie, not yet quietly possessed, to keepe out the inuasions of their enimies. Neither was Moses so extreme, but that he would haue regard of those poore wretches. Moreouer, such was his wisedome and equitie, that he would neuer haue spoiled, of all defence, that contrie, which he had so lately conquered with force of armes. Hereto we may ioyne this reason, that the concourse of such a multitude, would rather haue bene an hinderance than an aid in conquering the land of Chanaan.