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…

1 These are, &c.) Now he cometh to the land of Canaan, for ⟨p. 69⟩which it behoved nine tribes and a half to cast lots. And by and by, as we shall see, he will break off the report of that matter, yet it was a convenient passage of his speech from that region, which was of an other condition: that the readers may know, that he will speak afterward of the land of Canaan, whose division was to be made by lot. We have said before, that Joshua and Eleazer did part out, not only that which the Israelites had conquered: but giving credit to the promise of God, comprehended whatsoever God promised to his people, no otherwise, than if it had been already in their occupation. We shall see, that the partition was not perfect at the first: but when the lot of Judah fell out first, the courses of the other tribes were left in hope. But here ariseth a hard question, How Joshua, Eleazer, and the Princes divided the land, if lots were cast for it: For the casting of lots is not governed, either by the sentence, will, or authority of men. If any man will answer, that they did oversee the matter, that no deceit might be used, the knot is not yet loosed, yea, that answer shall be confuted by the text. Wherefore we must wit, that they were not simply chosen to divide the land by lot: but after the casting of the lots, to enlarge or restrain the bounds of every tribe by just proportion. And it is manifest, that the matter could not be accomplished only by casting of lots. For when nothing is more chaunceable in mans judgement, than the falling of lots, they knew not, whether God would place the half tribe of Manasseh, where Judah obtained his portion: whether Zebulun should have been in the place of Ephraim. Wherefore, it was not lawful for them, to proceed further in the beginning, than to divide the land into ten parts or provinces: but so, that the space of every one should remain undetermined. For, if every one should have had their choice, some would have wished to have dwelt in the middest of the land, some would have chosen a quiet country, some would have followed the fruitfulness of the fields, or the good temper of the air, or the pleasantness of the place. But the lot placed the tribe of Judah, as it were, in the head, and sent away the tribe of Zebulun unto the Sea coast:

1 These are, &c.) Now he commeth to the land of Chanaan, for ⟨p. 69⟩