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…

And wherefore should they keep silence, except it were to bewray their fearfulness, and so to provoke their enemies to issue out to fight against them, whom they were neither willing nor ready to receive: But because profane men, when they are most busily occupied, do often times turn all things upside down, God commandeth his soldiers to keep silence, & to be quiet, that they might accustom & acquaint them selves the better, simply to obey his commandments. This is also worthy to be noted, that the silver trumpets are not taken out of the sanctuary, that the Priests might sound them, but only trumpets of rams horns are given them. Verily, the sound of the holy trumpets would have prevailed more, to make them have good courage, but their obedience was better tried, while they are content with an usual and vulgar token. And they were set in such order, that the greater ⟨image 34⟩part went before the Ark, which is understood to be the men of war, and those followed, which used to wait upon the carriage. For it was their part to provide, that the rearguard were not dispersed. Because the name of congregation was dark and uncertain, I have used that word, which is more usual among the Latins. Whereas some appoint this office to the tribe of Dan, it hath no sure ground: for at this time they were not set in array, as at other times of their ordinary journeys.

And wherefore should they keepe silence, except it were to bewray their fearefulnesse, and so to prouoke their enimies to issue out to fight against them, whom they were neither willing nor redie to receiue: But because prophane men, when they are most busily occupied, doe often times turne all things vpside downe, God commandeth his souldiers to keepe silence, & to be quiet, that they might accustome & acquaint them selues the better, simply to obey his commandements. This is also worthie to be noted, that the siluer trumpets are not taken out of the sanctuarie, that the Priests might sound them, but only trumpets of rammes hornes are geuen them. Uerily, the sounde of the holy trumpets would haue preuailed more, to make them haue good corage, but their obedience was better tried, while they are content with an vsuall and vulgar token. And they were sette in suche order, that the greater ⟨image 34⟩part went before the Arke, which is vnderstood to bee the men of warre, and those followed, which vsed to wayte vpon the carriage. For it was their part to prouide, that the rearegard were not dispersed. Because the name of congregation was darke and vncertein, I haue vsed that worde, which is more vsuall among the Latines. Whereas some appoint this office to the tribe of Dan, it hath no sure ground: for at this time they were not set in araie, as at other times of their ordinarie iournayes.