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…

1 When they heard, &c.) The acknowledging of the fearful power of God, did so much prevail with them, that they were astonished through fear, and fainted: but it prevailed not to bend their minds to seek the remedy of their trouble. Their heart was melted, in that as men destitute of counsel and force, they stirred not them selves, but as touching obstinacy, the same hardness did bind them still. And we have already seen else where, that the unfaithful have been all amazed for fear, and yet ceased not to wrestle against GOD: and so have fallen, that still with their fierceness they have cast stones against heaven. Therefore that fear, which should have provoked them to beware, did nothing else but drive them headlong upon their own destruction. Thus were they terrified by God in favour of his people, that they might more easily obtain the victory: and that the Israelites might have better courage, when they saw that they had to do with such enemies, as were already discomfited and half dead. And so did God favour their weakness, that he removed all lets and hinderances, to make the way plain for them: other wise they were of them selves to fearful and slow. The sum is this therefore, that their enemies were already overthrown, because the fame of the miracle, had stricken such a fear into them.

1 When they heard, &c.) The acknowledging of the fearefull power of God, did so much preuaile with them, that they were astonished through feare, and fainted: but it preuailed not to bende their mindes to seeke the remedie of their trouble. Their heart was melted, in that as men destitute of counsell and force, they stirred not them selues, but as touching obstinacie, the same hardnesse did binde them still. And we haue alredie seene els where, that the vnfaithfull haue bene all amazed for feare, and yet ceased not to wrestle against GOD: and so haue fallen, that still with their fiercenesse they haue cast stones against heauen. Therefore that feare, which should haue prouoked them to beware, did nothing els but driue them headlong vpon their owne destruction. Thus were they terrified by God in fauour of his people, that they might more easily obteine the victorie: and that the Israelites might haue better courage, when they sawe that they had to doe with such enimies, as were alreadie discomfited and halfe dead. And so did God fauour their weakenes, that he remoued all lettes and hinderances, to make the way plaine for them: other wise they were of them selues to fearefull and slowe. The summe is this therefore, that their enimies were alreadie ouerthrowen, because the fame of the miracle, had striken such a feare into them.