1 When Joshua was old, &c.) Because we have seen before, that after one and thirty Kings were subdued, the land was in quiet: it is like, that some time of rest was granted to the people to refresh themselves, lest under continual warfare they should have fainted. Neither was that to be reprehended, so that they rested but for a time, and were always bent to run to the mark that was ⟨p. 65⟩appointed for them. But lest that intermission that was granted them to recover new strength, should have been an occasion of slothfulness: God pricketh them forward again to proceed in their enterprise. For he commandeth the whole inheritance to be divided among the tribes, & that all the coast of the Midland sea, which was yet possessed of the enemies, should be taken into the lot: surely, that partition might seem to be foolish and unreasonable, yea, worthy to be laughed to scorn, when they cast lots for other mens lands, as if they had ben their own. But God, of very good purpose, appointed it to be so. For first they would have cast aside all hope of the promise, and contented themselves with the present state. Yea, after the lots were cast, and that God had assigned unto them wholly whatsoever he promised: yet, through their slothfulness, as much as lay in them, they sought to discredit his word. Neither was there any help in them, but that the truth of God should have remained maimed and unperfect. Wherefore, the casting of lots, should have ben to them a pledge of sure possession, that they should be always in a readiness. Now they, whose portion fell in the enemies land, because they were in the mean time but tenants at will, and dwelt as it were by sufferance out of their own inheritance, were appointed to be callers upon the rest, to prick them forward daily. And surely, it was to much blockishness, to neglect and forsake that, which was assigned unto them by God. Now we see for what end it behoved the whole land to be parted by lots, and that every tribe should be placed in their own seat. And that was necessary to be done, while Joshua lived. For that, after his death, the people would not have so readily obeyed. For no man succeeded, whose authority might have attained to so hard a matter.
1 When Ioshue was olde, &c.) Because we haue seene before, that after one and thirtie Kinges were subdued, the land was in quiet: it is like, that some time of rest was graunted to the people to refresh themselues, lest vnder continuall warrefare they should haue fainted. Neither was that to be reprehended, so that they rested but for a time, and were alwayes bent to runne to the marke that was ⟨p. 65⟩appointed for them. But lest that intermission that was graunted them to recouer new strength, should haue bene an occasion of slouthfulnes: God pricketh them forward againe to proceede in their enterprise. For he commaundeth the whole inheritance to be diuided among the tribes, & that all the coast of the Midland sea, which was yet possessed of the enimies, should be taken into the lot: surely, that partition might seeme to be foolish and vnreasonable, yea, worthie to be laughed to scorne, when they cast lottes for other mens lands, as if they had ben their owne. But God, of verie good purpose, appointed it to be so. For first they would haue cast aside all hope of the promise, and contented themselues with the present state. Yea, after the lottes were cast, and that God had assigned vnto them wholy whatsoeuer he promised: yet, through their slouthfulnesse, as much as lay in them, they sought to discredite his woord. Neither was there any helpe in them, but that the truth of God should haue remained maimed and vnperfect. Wherefore, the casting of lottes, should haue ben to them a pledge of sure possession, that they should be alwayes in a redinesse. Now they, whose portion fell in the enimies land, because they were in the meane time but tenantes at will, and dwelt as it were by sufferance out of their owne inheritance, were appointed to be callers vppon the rest, to pricke them forward daily. And surely, it was to much blockishnesse, to neglect and forsake that, which was assigned vnto them by God. Now we see for what ende it behoued the whole lande to be parted by lottes, and that euerie tribe should be placed in their owne seate. And that was necessarie to be done, while Iosue liued. For that, after his death, the people would not haue so readily obeyed. For no man succeeded, whose authoritie might haue atteined to so hard a matter.
