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…

3 But the inhabitants of Gibeon, &c.) Only the Inhabitants of Gibeon refuse the purpose of war, and apply their minds to subtlety, that under pretence of dwelling far off, they might obtain peace. Now was this an odious matter among their neighbours to attempt: for it was a kind of departing from them, to diminish the force of their confederates, and so to set open the gates to the Israelites. And although the foolish credulity and light belief of Joshua, and the rulers was worthy of reprehension, in that they would so unadvisedly make a covenant, before they knew the matter: yet God, which is wont to bring light out of darkness, turned it into their benefit: for that hereby relief was given them, that the Israelites might rest in a quiet soil. Surely, the Gibeonites did well and wisely determine, that it was better for them to suffer any thing, rather then by resisting in vain, to provoke God any more against them. But to circumvent those men by fraud and unlawful craft, whose favour they humbly desired, it was no less unreasonable and ridiculous, then against reason and equity: for how could that league be steadfast which was grounded upon nothing but gross deceitfulness. For they feign that they were strangers that came from a far country. Therefore Joshua maketh a covenant with counterfeit or imagined men, and the league hath no hold, but according to their words. So the craft, by which they sought to thrust in themselves, ought to have profited them nothing. But as there was greater integrity and sincerity among men in those days: so they thought it enough, to get an oath by deceitfulness: which they were sure the people of Israel would never break. Where it is said, that they also dealt craftily, some refer it amiss to that stratagem or policy of war, which Joshua used in deceiving the Citizens of Hai: and no less unskilfully do some draw it unto the time of Jacob, whose sons Levy and Simeon by fraud oppressed ¹the Sichemits. But rather it is an opposition between the warlike preparation of the Kings, and the crafty subtlety by which they did set upon Joshua. Therefore, after it was said, that the rest conspired to come to open fight: there followeth the craft of the Gibeonites: ⟨image 52⟩and therefore the sense is, that Joshua had to do, not only with professed enemies, which gathered themselves to fight:

3 But the inhabitantes of Gibeon, &c.) Only the Inhabitants of Gibeon refuse the purpose of warre, and applie their mindes to subtiltie, that vnder pretence of dwelling farre off, they might obtein peace. Now was this an odious matter among their neighbours to attempt: for it was a kinde of departing from them, to diminish the force of their confederates, and so to set open the gates to the Israelites. And although the foolish credulitie and light beleefe of Iosue, and the rulers was worthie of reprehension, in that they would so vnaduisedly make a couenant, before they knewe the matter: yet God, which is wont to bring light out of darkenesse, turned it into their benefite: for that hereby releefe was giuen them, that the Israelites might rest in a quiet soyle. Surely, the Gibeonites did well and wisely determine, that it was better for them to suffer any thing, rather then by resisting in vaine, to prouoke God any more against them. But to circumuent those men by fraude and vnlawfull crafte, whose fauour they humbly desired, it was no lesse vnreasonable and ridiculous, then against reason and equitie: for how could that league be stedfast which was grounded vpon nothing but grosse deceiptfulnesse. For they feigne that they were straungers that came from a farre countrie. Therefore Iosue maketh a couenant with counterfeit or imagined men, and the league hath no holde, but according to their wordes. So the crafte, by which they sought to thrust in themselues, ought to haue profited thē nothing. But as there was greater integritie and sinceritie among men in those dayes: so they thought it enough, to get an othe by deceiptfulnesse: which they were sure the people of Israel would neuer breake. Where it is saide, that they also dealt craftely, some referre it amisse to that stratagem or policie of warre, which Iosue vsed in deceiuing the Citizenes of Hai: and no lesse vnskilfully doe some drawe it vnto the time of Iacob, whose sonnes Leuie and Simeon by fraud oppressed