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…

12 To the Rubenites, &c.) These tribes had their inheritance granted them on the other side of Jordan for this condition, that they should go a warfare with the rest of their brethren, until they had chased away the nations of the Canaanites. Now therefore Joshua exhorteth them to perform their promise, that leaving their wives and children, with all their goods, they should pass over Jordan, and not give over the warfare, until they saw their brethren all placed in quiet possession of their inheritances. And he bseth two arguments chiefly to provoke them to do their duty, of which the former is taken of authority, the other of equity. First therefore he rehearseth unto them what Moses gave them in commandment, from whose decree it was not lawful for them to decline, when all men knew right well, that Moses spake nothing of his own head, but only such things as God by his own mouth had uttered. And withal, though he do not express it, yet by the way he giveth them to understand, that they were bound by covenant, because they had promised that they would so do. Then setting before their eyes the equity of the cause, he moveth them to consider, that it were not meet that those should be in unequal condition, to whom the same inheritance was alike appointed. It ⟨p. 6⟩were not at all convenient (saith he) that your brethren should adventure them selves, and take pains to hold out the war, and you should sit quietly and enjoy your ease at home. But whereas he willeth them to go before, he meaneth not that they should be the first that should abide the brunt of their enemies, & so being laid open to all dangers, should take more pains, & endure greater hardness than all the rest. Only by this means he exhorteth them to march forward cheerfully, because it had been a kind of drawing back, if they should have followed all the rest slowly in the rereward. Therefore, to march before their brethren, is not to stand in the vauntgard of the battle when they should fight: but in keeping their order and array to show forth their courage and good will. For it is certain, that as they were divided into four standards, so they marched forward.

12 To the Rubenites, &c.) These tribes had their inheritance graunted them on the other side of Iordane for this condition, that they shoulde goe a warfare with the rest of their brethren, vntill they had chased away the nations of the Chanaanites. Now therefore Iosue exhorteth them to performe their promise, that leauing their wiues and children, with all their goodes, they should passe ouer Iordane, and not geue ouer the warrefare, vntill they sawe their brethren all placed in quiet possession of their inheritaunces. And he bseth two argumentes cheefly to prouoke them to doe their duetie, of which the former is taken of authoritie, the other of equitie. First therefore he rehearseth vnto them what Moses gaue them in commaundement, from whose decree it was not lawfull for them to decline, when all men knew right well, that Moses spake nothing of his owne head, but onely such thinges as God by his owne mouth had vttered. And withall, though he do not expresse it, yet by the way he geueth them to vnderstande, that they were bounde by couenaunt, because they had promised that they woulde so doe. Then setting before their eyes the equitie of the cause, he moueth them to consider, that it were not meete that those should be in vnequall condition, to whome the same inheritaunce was alike appointed. It