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…

but also with the crafty dissimulation of one nation. Yet it may be enquired, why they took such pains in a matter nothing necessary. For we shall see in another place, that the Israelites were commanded to offer peace to all men, that upon their refusal they might proclaim just and lawful war against them. But because it was commonly reported, that they sought a dwelling place in the land of Canaan, which they could not obtain, except they chased away the inhabitants, the Gibeonites persuade themselves, that they might not otherwise be moved to compassion, except they deceived by subtlety, because they thought that wittingly & willingly they would never have suffered the land which they invaded to be possessed of other. Yea, because the commandment was known, that they should destroy them all, this necessity compelled them to subtlety, because all hope of health was taken from them. And by this reason soon after they desire pardon for their subtlety, whereunto they were driven by necessity. Yet here ariseth a question: because the Israelites do object again, that it was not lawful for them to make any covenant with the nations of Canaan, but that they must destroy them all. Indeed these two things do not agree: that they should exhort them to yield, and yet not receive them which humbly and willingly did yield. But although God would keep the law of arms, according to the usual manner and custom, & that peace should be offered on that condition, that they would give place: yet he meant only to try the minds of those nations, that by their own obstinacy they should be cause of their own destruction: & the people of Israel were charged utterly to destroy them: whereupon this judgement is taken, that they which dwelt in the land of Canaan, might not be borne withal, with whom it was not lawful to make any covenant. And afterward, both these matters are plainly expressed: namely, that they did all obstinately make war, because that the judgement of God was, that their hearts should be hardened, that they might perish. Whereupon we may gather, that they could not be saved, which were appointed to die. If any man object, that the Gibeonites which willingly desired peace, were therefore accepted: I answer, that the Israelites do not consider at this time, that solemn ceremony, which took no effect:

but also with the craftie dissimulation of one nation. Yet it may be enquired, why they tooke such paines in a matter nothing necessarie. For wee shall see in another place, that the Israelites were commaunded to offer peace to all men, that vpō their refusall they might proclame iust and lawful warre against them. But because it was commonly reported, that they sought a dwelling place in the land of Chanaan, which they coulde not obteine, except they chased away the inhabitants, the Gibeonits persuade themselus, that they might not otherwise be moued to compassion, except they deceiued by subtiltie, because they thought that wittingly & willingly they would neuer haue suffred the land which they inuaded to be possessed of other. Yea, because the commandement was knowne, that they should destroy them all, this necessitie compelled them to subtiltie, because all hope of health was taken from them. And by this reason soone after they desire pardon for their subtiltie, wherevnto they were driuen by necessitie. Yet here ariseth a question: because the Israelites doe obiect again, that it was not lawfull for thē to make any couenant with the nations of Chanaan, but that they must destroy them all. Indeed these two thinges doe not agree: that they shoulde exhorte them to yeelde, and yet not receiue them which humbly and willingly did yeelde. But although God would keepe the law of armes, according to the vsuall manner and custome, & that peace should be offered on that condition, that they would geue place: yet he ment only to trie the minds of those nations, that by their own obstinacie they should be cause of their own destruction: & the people of Israel were charged vtterly to destroy thē: wherevpon this iudgement is taken, that they which dwelt in the land of Chanaan, might not be borne withall, with whome it was not lawfull to make any couenant. And afterward, both these matters are plainely expressed: namely, that they did all obstinately make warre, because that the iudgement of God was, that their hearts should be hardened, that they might perish. Wherevpō we may gather, that they could not be saued, which were appointed to die. If any man obiect, that the Gibeonites which willingly desired peace, were therefore accepted: I answere, that the Israelites doe not consider at this time, that solemne ceremonie, which tooke no effect: