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…

14 So the men took, &c.) They be vain collections of them, which think they tasted of the bread, to feel whether it were mouldy with oldness: or that they did confirm their league with a feast: whereas in my judgement, rather their too much credulity is reproved, that they did lightly believe such a feigned tale, and that while they look only to the bread, they did not consider, that this feigned devise was without colour of trueth. And surely, if their senses had not been dulled, they might easily have found many things to disprove the Gibeonites. But because the quickest sight is sometimes deceived with a vain show, their error is more sharply reproved, that they enquired not what was the pleasure of God. The remedy was at hand, if they had attempted nothing without the oracle of God. And the matter was of such weight, as they ought to have diligently enquired of it. Wherefore, it was a sign of gross negligence, when the Priest was at hand, which by Urim and Thummim might have enquired an answer of God, to decree unadvisedly of ⟨image 53⟩so doubtful a matter: as though they had had no counsel to direct them. Wherefore, their rashness was the less excusable, which was joined with such manifest neglect of the grace of God.

14 So the men tooke, &c.) They be vaine collections of them, which thinke they tasted of the bread, to feele whether it were moldie with oldnesse: or that they did confirme their league with a feast: whereas in my iudgement, rather their too much credulitie is reproued, that they did lightly beleeue such a feigned tale, and that while they looke only to the bread, they did not consider, that this feigned deuise was without colour of trueth. And surely, if their senses had not bene dulled, they might easily haue found manie thinges to disproue the Gibeonites. But because the quickest sight is sometimes deceiued with a vaine shewe, their error is more sharpely reproued, that they enquired not what was the pleasure of God. The remedie was at hande, if they had attempted nothing without the oracle of God. And the matter was of such weight, as they ought to haue diligently enquired of it. Wherefore, it was a signe of grosse negligence, when the Priest was at hand, which by Vrim and Thumim might haue enquired an answere of God, to decree vnaduisedly of ⟨image 53⟩so doubtfull a matter: as though they had had no counsell to direct them. Wherefore, their rashnesse was the lesse excusable, which was ioyned with such manifest neglect of the grace of God.