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…

10 And the third lot, &c.) In the lot of Zebulun appeareth ⟨image 89⟩the plain trueth of the prophecy of Jacob, which foreshowed, that they should dwell about the Sea coast. The old man, the vanished ¹man, which could not set his foot in his own ground, did assign the region by the Sea coast to the posterity of his son Zebulun. What seemeth more ridiculous? But now, when the lot assigneth to them the region by the Sea side, there could not be required a more clear approbation of that sentence: as if God had twice thundered out of heaven. Therefore the tribe of Zebulun obtaineth not the Sea coast by their own choice, nor by the appointment of men: but the region adjoining to the Sea, was by God himself adjudged to be their inheritance. So that, although men erred, yet the light always shined in the darkness. Jacob proceedeth further, and maketh a notable difference between Zebulun and Issachar: namely, that the former tribe should ²travel to and fro with merchandise: the other should sit quietly and lead their lives in their tents. Therefore it is like, that the Sea coast, where Zebulun dwelled, was full of havens, and apt for manifold traffic. But the sons of Issachar containing themselves in the profits & fruits of their lands, lived of their labour and tillage. They that are thought to be skilful in those regions, affirm that the land of the tribe of Asher, was a great corn country, which answereth with great consent and agreement unto the prophecy of Jacob. That so small a number of cities is ³here expressed, we may gather again, that there were many ruinous places, which came not in account, but after the people were well settled, many goodly cities were built on them, with which the land was garnished, as it is manifest out of other places. And surely it appeareth, that the sum of the division is briefly touched, & so, many things are omitted, which it is lawful to search out, so it be not with curiosity that is without profit. Surely they which have here but twenty or seventeen cities rehearsed, had a larger dominion. Therefore here is only rehearsed, the abridgement of the division, such as is like to be taken out of the short bills of the messengers which were written in hast.