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…

17 The city shall be, &c.) Although GOD had decreed to enrich his people, not only with spoil and pray: but also to place them in cities, which they had not builded: yet there was a special respect in the first city, because it was meet, it should be consecrated to him as the first fruits. Wherefore, he challengeth to him self, as well the buildings as the stuff, and forbiddeth that any thing thereof should be taken to any private use. This first beginning of the war, perhaps, might seem unto the people, to be heavy and unpleasant: that they should overthrow the houses, in which they might well have dwelled: and spoil all other things, that might have served them for many needful purposes. But, seeing they had taken no pains in fighting, they might well be content to forbear the spoil, and willingly to yield unto God the reward of the victory, ⟨p. 30⟩at whose only commandment, the walls fell down, and with the walls all the hope and courage of the Citizens, Ant GOD was so content with this token of their thankfulness, that he would also have the people to learn betimes, that nothing was their own, but of his only free liberality. For by the same right he might have adjudged all the rest of the cities to the like destruction, but that he gave them to his people to dwell in. Of the word CHEREM this I will repeat briefly out of other places: that when it is referred to holy oblations, it is taken for an abolishing, in respect of men: that they should none otherwise renounce the things that are so addict to abolishing, than if they were consumed to nothing. The Greeks call the same thing [Greek or Hebrew], or [Greek or Hebrew], as it were a thing laid aside: we in the French tongue call it aptly An interdictment. Hereof cometh the exhortation, that they beware of the thing accursed: because it was lost, as concerning men, which was separated only to GOD. In the next verse it is taken otherwise, that the host of the Israelites be not made a curse, whereby is simply noted perdition, overthrow, or destruction. As for the vessels that were made of metal, GOD appointed for the use of the sanctuary: all other things he commanded to be burned with fire, or otherwise to be destroyed.

17 The citie shalbe, &c.) Although GOD had decreed to enriche his people, not onely with spoile and pray: but also to place them in cities, which they had not builded: yet there was a speciall respect in the first citie, because it was meete, it should be cōsecrated to him as the first fruites. Wherefore, he challengeth to him selfe, as well the buildings as the stuffe, and forbiddeth that any thing thereof should be taken to any priuate vse. This first beginning of the warre, perhaps, might seeme vnto the people, to be heauie and vnpleasant: that they should ouerthrowe the houses, in which they might well haue dwelled: and spoile all other things, that might haue serued them for many needfull purposes. But, seeing they had taken no paines in fighting, they might well be content to forbeare the spoile, and willingly to yeld vnto God the reward of the victorie,