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 Out of the portion of the children of Judah came the inheritance of the children of Simeon: for the part of the children ⟨p. 84⟩of Judah was too much for them: therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within their inheritance.

9 Out of the portion of the children of Iudah came the inheritance of the children of Simeon: for the parte of the children ⟨p. 84⟩of Iudah was too much for them: therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within their inheritance.

Next followeth the tribe of Simeon, not so much for honours sake, as for a note of reproach. Jacob had pronounced of Simeon and Levi, I will disperse them & scatter them. In deed the penalty ¹of Levi was not only mitigated, but also turned into an excellent dignity: because his posterity were placed as it were in a watchtower, to keep the people in their duty of godliness and religion. But, as touching Simeon, that certain cities were given to his posterity within the borders of Judah, this was a manifest dispersion, whereof Jacob had prophesied. Although they were not cast a sunder into places far distant, yet were they but as tenants, and dispersed when they dwelled within the soil of an other tribe. Therefore, for that slaughter which they committed with no less unfaithfulness, than cruelty, they were separated into divers lodgings. By this means the offence of their father was cast into the bosom of his sons, and that sentence which God delivered to his servant, he did execute indeed. Also the trueth of the lot was clearly approved. But whereas a portion is taken away from the tribe of Judah, we see again, that although the overseers of the division, determined most wisely to keep equity: yet they were deceived with an error, which they were not ashamed to correct as soon as it was found out. And it is no absurdity, that although they were ruled by the spirit of God, yet they were deceived in some part: because God sometimes withdraweth from his servants the spirit of judgement, and suffereth them to do one thing or other, like men, that they should not triumph too much in their exceeding great wisdom. Add hereunto, that the people were justly punished for their negligence and careless hastiness: because they should from the beginning have better discussed, what right belonged to every one, which thing they neglected. A large dominion was unskilfully assigned without discretion unto the tribe of Judah, whereof equity constrained them afterward to appoint some part for other tribes. Howbeit, it had ben better, that their certain limits had been set down at the first, than afterward to have some part taken away with their grief. Moreover, every one presumed with vain hope, that they should have large & wide possessions, as though the land had stretched forth it self