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…

4 But to the Levites, &c.) This is the third time that the same thing is repeated of the Levites, that they were accounted to make one head, bu• for another purpose, because it followeth immediately after, that the sons of Joseph were divided into two tribes, & so by privilege their portion was doubled. For so Jacob had prophesied: yea even as a Judge appointed by God, he preferred his son Joseph before the rest, in this behalf. God therefore took the Levites to his own portion, and set up in their place one of the two families of Joseph.

4 But to the Leuites, &c.) This is the thirde time that the same thing is repeated of the Leuites, that they were accompted to make one head, bu• for another purpose, because it followeth immediately after, that the sonnes of Ioseph were diuided into two tribes, & so by priuiledge their portion was doubled. For so Iacob had prophesied: yea euen as a Iudge appointed by God, he preferred his sonne Ioseph before the rest, in this behalfe. God therefore tooke the Leuites to his owne portion, and set vp in their place one of the two families of Ioseph.

6 And the children of Judah came, &c.) Now is interlaced an other matter, whereby that which was begun to be spoken, of the partition of the land is broken off: namely, that Caleb required mount Hebron to be given unto him, even as it was promised by Moses: and this happened in time long before the people had made an end of their wars, and should cast lots for the land. For this is numbered the fifth year, since they entered into the land: neither doeth he require a place that was already quietly possessed, and free from enemies: but in the middest of the fury and heat of wars, he desireth ⟨p. 70⟩that he may have leave to subdue and s•aie the Giants, and so to conquer it. This only he indenteth with them, that after •ee hath vanquished the Giants by his virtue and manhood, he be not defrauded of the reward of his travel. The manner of provision is, that this place come not into the common lot of his tribe. Therefore he alone doth not take upon him this enterprise, but the sons of Judah, of which tribe he was, agree thereunto, because that by this extraordinary gift, which was bestowed upon one family, the portion of every one was, by so much as his part came to, increased. Therefore, although Caleb alone doth speak, the whole tribe is with him, whose benefit it was, that he should be enriched with this reward. But why Caleb is called the Kenesite, I cannot certainly determine, He is called so also: