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…

13 Joshua arose, &c.) It is not like, that all the host was brought out of the camp, but that an army was made out of the multitude, which was most accustomed to the wars. And hereof it appeareth, that it was a great army, that he sendeth away five thousand to lie in wait. For although it seemeth in the beginning, that five and thirty thousand are reckoned, yet it is manifest by the context, that the number was not all so great. But rather I conjecture, that he led thirty thousand himself, which should fight openly: and that five thousand were set apart by themselves, which should lie in wait. That Joshua doth speedily execute that charge that was given him, and taketh his journey in the morning: by this great hasting is expressed, how effectually the promise of God did work in them. For if all their minds had not been delivered from fear, he should never have found them so ready to obey. But it seemeth, that he doth not wisely send from him so great a multitude, which by privy ways, should come to the place meet for the lying in wait. For although they went quietly in never so good array, yet with the only moving of their feet, they must needs make a great noise. Now if any man will say, that no man met them, because all the inhabitants of the country, were fled out of the fields into the city: it is told soon after, that before the Israelites came near the city, that their coming was known unto the King of Ha• which scarce could have been done without espials. Now, to grant that no man met them in the fields: yet it was hard to pass by, and in the night to set the ambushment in a convenient place, and that they should there stay, but that they should bewray themselves by some token or other. As touching the purpose of Joshua, although he saw right well, that the turn might have been served with a less company, yet it seemeth that he was constrained through the late trembling of the people, to beware that he attempted nothing with danger. For if a small crew had been sent from the host, perhaps they would have refused the charge, by which they were driven into so great and manifest danger. In the mean time, God dealeth more than mercifully with his people, when he delivereth their enemies so easily to be vanquished.

13 Iosue arose, &c.) It is not like, that all the hoast was brought out of the campe, but that an armie was made out of the multitude, which was most accustomed to the warres. And hereof it appeareth, that it was a great armie, that he sendeth away fiue thousand to lie in wayte. For although it seemeth in the beginning, that fiue and thirtie thousand are reckoned, yet it is manifest by the context, that the number was not all so great. But rather I coniecture, that he ledde thirtie thousand himselfe, which should fight openly: and that fiue thousand were set apart by themselues, which shoulde lie in wayte. That Iosue doth speedily execute that charge that was geuen him, and taketh his iourney in the morning: by this great hasting is expressed, howe effectually the promise of God did worke in them. For if all their mindes had not bene deliuered from feare, he should neuer haue founde them so redie to obey. But it seemeth, that he doth not wisely sende from him so great a multitude, which by priuie wayes, should come to the place meete for the lying in wayte. For although they went quietly in neuer so good aray, yet with the onely mouing of their feete, they must needes make a great noise. Now if any man will say, that no man mette them, because all the inhabitantes of the countrie, were fled out of the feeldes into the citie: it is tolde soone after, that before the Israelites came neere the citie, that their comming was knowne vnto the King of Ha which scarse coulde haue bene done without espialles. Now, to graunt that no man mette them in the feeldes: yet it was harde to passe by, and in the night to set the ambushment in a conuenient place, and that they should there stay, but that they should bewray themselues by some token or other. As touching the purpose of Iosue, although he sawe right well, that the turne might haue bene serued with a lesse companie, yet it seemeth that he was constreined through the late trembling of the people, to beware that he attempted nothing with daunger. For if a small crewe had bene sent from the hoast, perhaps they woulde haue refused the charge, by which they were driuen into so great and manifest daunger. In the meane time, God dealeth more than mercifully with his people, when he deliuereth their enimies so easily to be vanquished.