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…

So the Kings beyond Jordan, when they had first armed themselves, suffered punishment worthily of their rashness. For the Israelites did not set upon them with open war, before they were provoked. Likewise, after the same manner, the Citizens of Jericho, when they shut their gates, offered war themselves. The like stubbornness was in the rest, ⟨p. 62⟩which after the same sort gave the Israelites occasion to fight. Now it appeareth, how aptly these things agree together, that God commanded Moses, that the nations, which he had appointed to destruction, should be utterly defaced, and rooted out: and therefore he doeth open a way for his decree to take place, when he hardeneth the reprobate. Therefore, in the first degree is placed the will of God, that it might have the preeminence, as the chief cause.

So the Kings beyond Iordan, when they had first armed themselues, suffered punishment worthily of their rashnesse. For the Israelites did not set vppon them with open warre, before they were prouoked. Likewise, after the same manner, the Citizens of Iericho, when they shut their gates, offered warre themselues. The like stubbornesse was in the rest, ⟨p. 62⟩which after the same sort gaue the Israelites occasion to fight. Now it appeareth, how aptly these thinges agree together, that God commanded Moses, that the nations, which he had appointed to destruction, should be vtterly defaced, and rooted out: and therefore he doeth open a way for his decree to take place, when he hardeneth the reprobate. Therefore, in the first degree is placed the will of God, that it might haue the preeminence, as the cheefe cause.

For, because their iniquity was come up to the full, he determined to destroy them. Whereupon proceeded the commandment of God given to Moses, which yet should have had no effect, except the people had been armed to execute the judgement of God, through the obstinacy and stubbornness of them that were to be destroyed. For this end doeth God harden them, that they may turn themselves away from obtaining of mercy: therefore this hardness is called his work, because it establisheth the effect of his purpose. Now, if they which feign that God doeth spy out of Heaven, what the pleasure of men is, go about to darken with their clouds so plain a matter, and cannot abide that by his secret working the hearts of men should be bridled, what else shall they do but bewray their own impudency? They will grant no more to God, but that he doeth permit: so they hang his purpose upon the will of man. But what saith the holy Ghost? That their hardening was of God, that he might cast down headlong, them that he would have to be destroyed.