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 And the West border is to the great Sea: so this border shall be the bounds of the children of Judah round about, according to their families.

12 And the West border is to the great Sea: so this border shalbe the bounds of the children of Iudah round about, according to their families.

13 And unto Caleb the son of Jephunneh did Joshua give a part among the children of Judah, as the Lord commanded him, even Kiriath-arbah of the father of Anak, which is Hebron.

13 And vnto Caleb the sonne of Iephunneh did Ioshue giue a parte among the children of Iudah, as the Lorde commanded him, euen Kiriath-arbah of the father of Anak, which is Hebron.

1 And the lot, &c.) I have showed before, that in setting out the situation of the places, & searching out the reason of their names, I would not be curious, partly because I confess, that I am not so exercised in the knowledge of Topography or Chorography, partly because of great labour bestowed therein, small fruit would come to the readers. Yea, peradventure the greatest part of men should take pain without any profit. But to the purpose, we must note, that the lot of the tribe of Judah, doeth not only fall in a high place, that the very height of the region might commend the dignity of the kingdom that should be therein: but because the name of that tribe, doeth first come forth, as a foreshowing of the same matter. They begin to divide that which was already conquered by war. The names of the ten tribes are cast into a pot. Judah is preferred before all the rest. Who seeth not, that he is lifted up into the highest degree, that the prophecy of Jacob might be fulfilled? Now, within these bounds, which are here set down, it is well known, that there were goodly pastures, noble and fruitful vines. Thus, when the lot doeth answer to the prophecy of Jacob, it is manifest, that it fell not by chance: and that the holy Patriarch did pronounce that, which was delivered to him by the spirit of God. They that are skilful of the places, may with more pleasure and profit inquire more of them. But that the ruder sort be not grieved to read unknown names, let them think, that it is well worth their labour, if they do remember, that short sum which I have touched, namely, that the tribe of Judah is lifted up on high, that it may be seen aloft above the rest, until the sceptre do arise from thence: and secondly, that a region fruitful of vines and pastures is assigned to him: moreover, that all the people might acknowledge, that his lo fell not by chance, which was foreshowed three hundred years before. Furthermore, of the large and manifold compass of the places, the unlearned sort may easily gather, that it was a great province, which was assigned by lot to that one tribe. For, although some diminution happened afterward, yet they had always the largest dominion.