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…

9 And the Canaanites shall hear, &c.) He setteth forth another cause of fear, least all the people thereabout, which either subdued with misery, or terrified with miracles, had hitherto been quiet, should suddenly take heart of grace, and run upon the people. And this was like, that as the power of God before had broken them, and made them astonished: so they would boldly come down into the battle, as soon as they ceased to feel, that GOD did fight against them. Therefore he objecteth unto God, the danger of the time to come, if he did not provide in due season, because the Canaanites, ⟨image 40⟩which hitherto had lien bound as it were with numbness, taking this occasion, would steppe forth lustily, and setting upon the people being thus discouraged, would easily destroy them. But by the conclusion it appeareth, that his principal care was not for the peoples safety, but that the honour of Gods name might remain untouched, and not be subject to the lewd scorns of the ungodly: which would have come to pass, if the people had been cast out of the inheritance that was so often promised them. That saying of God is well known, which is contained in the song of Moses, ¹My mind-was to destroy them, but that I feared the pride of their enemies: left happily they should say, It is our high hand, and not the Lord, which hath done all these things. Therefore, that which God (speaking like a man) pronounced, that he feared, now Joshua saith is to be prevented, lest by this overthrow of the people, their enemies wax so proud, that they would triumph even against God himself.

9 And the Chananites shall heare, &c.) He setteth forth another cause of feare, least all the people thereabout, which either subbued with miserie, or terrified with miracles, had hitherto beene quiet, should soudeinly take heart of grace, and runne vpon the people. And this was like, that as the power of God before had broken them, and made them astonnished: so they would boldly come downe into the battell, as soone as they ceased to feele, that GOD did fight against them. Therefore he obiecteth vnto God, the daunger of the time to come, if he did not prouide in due season, because the Chanaanites, ⟨image 40⟩which hitherto had lyen bound as it were with numnesse, taking this occasion, would steppe foorth lustily, and setting vppon the people being thus discouraged, would easily destroy them. But by the conclusion it appeareth, that his principall care was not for the peoples safetie, but that the honour of Gods name might remaine vntouched, and not be subiect to the lewde scornes of the vngodlie: which would haue come to passe, if the people had bene cast out of the inheritance that was so often promised them. That saying of God is well knowen, which is conteined in the song of Moses,