19 There was no city which made peace, &c.) At the first sight it is contrary to this sentence, that which is often repeated by Moses, 1that the Israelites should not make any covenant with those nations, ⟨image 66⟩nor admit any conditions of peace, but utterly consume and destroy their race •s•ed their name. Therefore, seeing they were excluded from all covenants, and should have desired peace in vain, it is against reason, that their destruction should be imputed to their own stubbornness, when they could by no entreaty have obtained pardon. For suppose they had sent Ambassadors with olive branches, & have desired peace: Joshua would straight have answered, that it was not lawful for him to enter into any treaty with them, because God had forbidden him. Wherefore, if they had assayed an hundred ways to have avoided the war, yet they must needs have ben destroyed. Why are they blamed therefore, that they did not desire peace? As though they were not constrained of necessity to fight, when they saw they had to do with such a people, as would not be pacified. Wherefore, seeing they could not do otherwise, the fault is unjustly laid to their charge, that being constrained they set themselves against the fury of their enemies. I answer, although the Israelites were forbidden to receive them to mercy, yet that the war might be just they were entertained with hostility. And that was wonderfully governed by the secret providence of God, that they, which were appointed to destruction, should offer themselves thereto, and by provoking the Israelites, should procure their own overthrow and utter decay. Therefore God, which forbade that any pity should be showed on them, drave them into such a fury, that they might not be worthy to have any mercy bestowed upon them. And in this behalf it was not meet the people should be to curious or inquisitive. For when God on the one side forbade them to enter into any covenant: yet would not have them to show any hostility, except they were justly provoked, to doubtful a disputation would have troubled their minds. Wherefore, this was the only way to be rid of this perplexity, to cast all their care on God alone. And he himself, according to his incomprehensible wisdom, provided, that when they came to the point, the course of the people should not be hindered with any let.
19 There was no citie which made peace, &c.) At the first sight it is contrarie to this sentence, that which is often repeted by Moses, 1that the Israelites should not make any couenant with those nations, ⟨image 66⟩nor admitte any conditions of peace, but vtterly consume and destroy their race •s•ed their name. Therefore, seeing they were excluded from all couenantes, and should haue desired peace in vaine, it is against reason, that their destruction should be imputed to their owne stubbornesse, when they coulde by no entreatie haue obteined pardon. For suppose they had sent Embassadours with oliue branches, & haue desired peace: Iosue would streight haue answered, that it was not lawfull for him to enter into any treatie with them, because God had forbidden him. Wherefore, if they had assaied an hundred wayes to haue auoyded the warre, yet they must needs haue ben destroyed. Why are they blamed therefore, that they did not desire peace? As though they were not constrained of necessitie to fight, when they sawe they had to doe with such a people, as would not be pacified. Wherefore, seeing they could not do otherwise, the fault is vniustly laied to their charge, that being constreined they set themselues against the furie of their enimies. I answeare, although the Israelites were forbidden to receiue them to mercie, yet that the warre might be iust they were interteined with hostilitie. And that was wonderfully gouerned by the secret prouidence of God, that they, which were appointed to destruction, shoulde offer themselues thereto, and by prouoking the Israelites, should procure their owne ouerthrowe and vtter decay. Therefore God, which forbad that any pittie should be shewed on them, draue them into such a furie, that they might not be worthie to haue any mercie bestowed vpon them. And in this behalfe it was not meete the people should be to curious or inquisitiue. For when God on the one side forbad them to enter into any couenant: yet would not haue them to shewe any hostilitie, except they were iustly prouoked, to doubtfull a disputation would haue troubled their mindes. Wherefore, this was the only way to be rid of this perplexitie, to cast all their care on God alone. And he himselfe, according to his incomprehensible wisedome, prouided, that when they came to the point, the course of the people should not be hindered with any let.
- 1Exod. 23. 32. Deut. 7. […].Exod. 23. 32. Deut. 7. 〈…〉.
