2 This is the land, &c.) The old borders appointed by God in ⟨image 69⟩times past, are called to remembrance: that Joshua, & the people, might be certainly persuaded, that the covenant made with Abraham, should at the length be fulfilled to the uttermost. Wherefore, they are commanded to apply their diligence to conquer those parts that remained. And it will be an apt application, if this perseverance be applied to that continuance which is required of us, namely, that forgetting these things which are behind, we labour forward to the reward of our high calling, and continue our course to the mark that is set before us. For, it shall nothing profit us, to have run in the race, unless we study to continue to the end. The beginning of the borders is from the river which divideth Egypt, toward the Sea, from the holy land: whether it be Nilus, as we have translated it, after the common opinion: or else a little river which •ū •eth by the town Rhinocornia, which of many is thought to be Raphia or Raphane. But this is out of doubt, that the inheritance of the people on that side, bordered upon Egypt. And although I have followed the consent of many men, that their borders were extended no further, than to that coast, which is less inhabited, and almost desert, lest too near neighbourhood should have ben hurtful, if they had had familiar & near acquaintance with the Egyptians: yet I do not utterly refuse the contrary opinion. In the first verse riseth a question, because that, after it is said, that there were five principalities about the Sea coast, the Avites are added in the sixth place. Some think they are not reckoned among the five, because it was a small province. But let the readers consider, whether there be not a secret opposition between a people that was free, and of their own government, and of the five principalities. Therefore, because the state of the Avites was diverse from the rest, they are numbered severally. And therefore a Noun plural is set for distinction sake. But as for the rehearsal of these principalities, is not made according to the dignity or wealth of every one: but Aza occupied the first place, because it was next Egypt. And the same reason is in Asdod, & the rest. The Grecians, after their manner, for the Hebrew letter AIN, put their GAMMA, & so they call that Gaza, which the Hebrews call Aza:
2 This is the land, &c.) The old borders appointed by God in ⟨image 69⟩times past, are called to remembrance: that Iosue, & the people, might be certeinly persuaded, that the couenaunt made with Abraham, should at the length be fulfilled to the vttermost. Wherefore, they are commanded to applie their diligence to conquere those partes that remained. And it will be an apte application, if this perseuerance be applied to that continuance which is required of vs, namely, that forgetting these thinges whiche are behinde, wee laboure forward to the reward of our high calling, and continue our course to the marke that is sette before vs. For, it shall nothing profite vs, to haue runne in the race, vnlesse we studie to continue to the end. The beginning of the borders is from the riuer which diuideth Egypt, toward the Sea, from the holie land: whether it be Nilus, as we haue transla ted it, after the cōmon opinion: or else a litle riuer which •ū •eth by the towne Rhinocornia, which of many is thought to be Raphia or Raphane. But this is out of doubt, that the inheritance of the people on that side, bordered vppon Egypt. And although I haue followed the consent of many men, that their borders were extended no further, than to that coast, which is lesse inhabited, and almost desert, lest too neere neighborhood shuld haue ben hurtfull, if they had had familiar & neere acquaintance with the Egyptians: yet I do not vtterly refuse the contrarie opi•ion. In the first verse riseth a question, because that, after it is said, that there were fiue principalities about the Sea coast, the Auites are added in the sixt place. Some thinke they are not reckoned among the fiue, because it was a small prouince. But let the readers consider, whether there be not a secreat opposition betweene a people that was free, and of their owne gouernement, and of the fiue principalities. Therefore, because the state of the Auites was diuerse from the rest, they are numbered seuerally. And therefore a Nowne plurall is set for distinction sake. But as for the rehearsall of these principalities, is not made according to the dignitie or wealth of euerie one: but Aza occupied the first place, because it was next Egypt. And the same reson is in Asdod, & the rest. The Grecians, after their manner, for the Hebrue letter AIN, put their GAMMA, & so they cal that Gaza, which the Hebrues call Aza:
