4 Deliver three men, &c.) Caleb and Joshua had already searched out those coasts, and the people by inquiry had known many things: yet Joshua would have that land divided as it were upon the present view: and commandeth three spies to be chosen for every one of the seven tribes, that in the mouth of two or three, every controversy might be ended. But nothing seemeth to be less agreeable to reason, than to send one & twenty men, which should not only pass straight through the land of their enemies, but also should compass about by many crooked turnings, that no corner should be hid from them, but that they should measure the length and breadth, and should also consider unequal coasts. For every one, whom they should meet, might easily suspect what men they were, and ⟨p. 82⟩for what cause they were sent about this business. Finally, they could not return again freely, but through a thousand deaths: neither would they of a blind and brutish motion have adventured themselves in so great danger, nor Joshua would have been author unto them of so perilous a journey: but because they had good experience, that those nations being astonished with fear from Heaven, desired nothing more than peace: for although they hated the children of Israel, yet being subdued with so many slaughters, they durst not stir a finger against them: so the searchers or surveyors went forward, as it had been into a peaceable country, either under pretext of merchandise, or else as harmless strangers. It may be also, that being divided into several companies, they made their journey more secretly. Certain it is, that they never could have had such boldness and trust, but because they knew themselves to be under the shadow of the wings of God, and therefore feared not those blind and blockish nations. Hereupon it is that their prompt and ready will is here commended: for except they had been persuaded, that the hands of those nations were bound by God, that they could not touch them, they might have had just and honest occasion to have refused the voyage.
4 Deliuer three men, &c.) Caleb and Iosue had alredie searched out those coastes, and the people by inquirie had knowne many thinges: yet Iosue would haue that lande diuided as it were vppon the present viewe: and commandeth three spies to be chosen for euerie one of the seuen tribes, that in the mouth of two or three, euerie controuersie might be ended. But nothing seemeth to be lesse agreeable to reason, than to send one & twentie men, which should not only passe streight through the land of their enimies, but also should compasse about by many crooked turninges, that no corner shoulde bee hid from them, but that they should measure the length and bredth, and should also consider vnequall coastes. For euerie one, whome they should meete, might easily suspecte what men they were, and ⟨p. 82⟩for what cause they were sent about this businesse. Finally, they could not returne againe freely, but through a thousand deathes: neither would they of a blinde and brutishe motion haue aduentured themselues in so great daunger, nor Iosue would haue bene authour vnto them of so perilous a iorney: but because they had good experience, that those nations beeing astonished with feare from Heauen, desired nothing more than peace: for although they hated the children of Israel, yet beeing subdued with so many slaughters, they durst not stirre a finger against them: so the searchers or surueyers went forward, as it had bene into a peaceable countrie, either vnder pretext of merchandize, or else as harmelesse straungers. It may be also, that beeing diuided into seuerall companies, they made their iourney more secretly. Certeine it is, that they neuer could haue had such boldnesse and trust, but because they knew themselues to be vnder the shadowe of the wings of God, and therefore feared not those blinde and blockish nations. Hereuppon it is that their prompt and readie will is here commended: for except they had bene persuaded, that the handes of those nations were bound by God, that they could not touch them, they might haue had iust and honest occasion to haue refused the voyage.
