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…

9. So the men went, &c.) Here is not only commended their willing obedience, in which appeareth their singular virtue, but also the notable favour of God, that he vouchsafed to give such wonderful success to the godly purpose of Joshua and the people. If they had crept through mines under the earth, they could scarce have escaped innumerable dangers. Now when they mark the cities & their situations, the fields, the variety of regions, & all the coasts, & without any evil adventure return happily again, who would doubt, but that their life was preserved by the wonderful power of God, among a thousand deaths? Therefore by way of Emphasis or augmentation to celebrate the grace of God, it is said, that they returned into the host: which is as much in effect, as that they were brought back by the hand of God, that the people might more willingly fall to casting of their lots. For their minds would not yet have ben well purged of weariness, but that they saw in this voyage the wonderful grace of God, which promised unto them success according to their desire. Therefore Joshua is said to have divided the land according to the portion of every one, as though he put them in quiet possession: but yet the effect depended upon the presence of God, because it ought ⟨image 86⟩fice them, that the whole matter was governed by the authority of God, which never deceiveth his servants, no not when he seemeth to play or trifle. But in what sense the Ark of covenant is called God, or his face, I have expounded in many places before.

9. So the men went, &c.) Here is not only commended their willing obedience, in which appeareth their singular vertue, but also the notable fauour of God, that he vouchsafed to geue such wonderful successe to the godly purpose of Iosue and the people. If they had crept through mines vnder the earth, they could scarse haue escaped innumerable dangers. Now when they marke the cities & their situations, the fields, the varietie of regions, & all the coastes, & without any euill aduenture returne happily againe, who would doubt, but that their life was preserued by the wonderfull power of God, among a thousand deathes? Therefore by way of Emphasis or augmentation to celebrate the grace of God, it is said, that they returned into the host: which is asmuch in effect, as that they were broght backe by the hand of God, that the people might more willingly fall to casting of their lots. For their minds would not yet haue ben well purged of werines, but that they sawe in this voayge the wonderfull grace of God, which promised vnto them successe according to their desire. Therefore Iosue is said to haue diuided the land according to the portion of euery one, as though he put them in quiet possession: but yet the effect depended vpō the presence of God, because it ought