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…

If any man think it against reason, that after he had possessed the dominion of certain of cities, he retired back again, and so left the country open to the enemies, which it would be some labour to recover again: I answer, it was not to be feared, lest they would come far to meet him, and take a journey that was so full of great danger and like trouble. For it is like, that when an army was mustered for the taking of Jericho, that the women, children, and all the weak multitude, stayed with their stuff, in that quiet corner: when on the contrary short of Jordan that was over against them, they that were left of the Rubenites and Gadites, with the half tribe of Manasseh, were a defence unto them. For to what purpose should they •ave drawn with them the children and women, whereof some were great with child, some newly delivered, some nurses with young infants, into the battles? Where should so great a multitude had victuals in the middest of the out ridings of their enemies? Where was watering to suffice such a multitude of cattle? Wherefore, thus I take it, that Joshua and the soldiers returned to their tents, to refresh themselves a while, with their wives and children, and to lay up the spoil there, where with they were enriched.

If any man thinke it against reason, that after he had possessed the dominion of certaine of cities, he retired backe againe, and so left the countrie open to the enimies, which it would be some labour to recouer againe: I answeare, it was not to be feared, lest they would come farre to meete him, and take a iorney that was so full of great daunger and like trouble. For it is like, that when an armie was mustered for the taking of Iericho, that the women, children, and all the weake multitude, stayed with their stuffe, in that quiet corner: when on the contrarie short of Iordan that was ouer against them, they that were left of the Rubenites and Gadites, with the halfe tribe of Manasses, were a defence vnto them. For to what purpose should they •aue drawen with them the children and women, whereof some were great with childe, some newly deliuered, some nurses with young infantes, into the battelles? Where should so greate a multitude had victuals in the middest of the out ridings of their enimies? Where was watering to suffice such a multitude of cattell? Wherefore, thus I take it, that Iosue and the souldiers returned to their tentes, to refresh themselues a while, with their wiues and children, and to lay vp the spoile there, where wt they were inriched.