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…

24 Also they said unto Joshua, Surely the Lord hath delivered into our hands all the land: for even all the inhabitants of the country faint because of us.

24 Also they said vnto Ioshua, Surely the Lord hath deliuered into our handes all the land: for euen all the inhabitantes of the countrie faint because of vs.

1 Joshua had sent, &c.) This was an other kind of espying, whereof the text now entreateth, than that former was, when Joshua with other eleven was sent: namely, to search all the quarters of the land, and to make report before all the people of the situation, nature, and fruitfulness of the country, and of other qualities thereof: of the greatness and frequency of the cities, of the inhabitants and their manners. To this intent, that they might more willingly address ⟨p. 8⟩them selves to march forward against them, when otherwise they were to slow and slothful for such an enterprise. And although it appeareth out of the first Chapter of Deuteronomy, that Moses was ¹earnestly required by the people, to send chosen men to spy out the land, yet elsewhere he reporteth, that he did so by the commandment of God. Wherefore those twelve persons went both by the ²commandment of God, and for an end somewhat diverse from these, that after they had diligently spied out the land, they might be able to commend the excellency thereof, to encourage the minds of the people to conquer it. But now Joshua sendeth two men privily, which might espy, whether they might have free passage or no: whether the inhabitants of Jericho were in security, or else well provided and ready to fight. Finally, he sendeth such espials, by whose report he may prevent all dangers. Wherefore the question may be argued on both parts, Whether this counsel of his, was to be allowed, or else to be condemned of to much carefulness: especially, because he seemeth to have leaned to much to his own wisdom, whiles he asketh no counsel of GOD, and is so circumspect to prevent all dangers. But, albeit it is not expressed, that he was commanded by oracle, to will the people to remove, and so published a decree for the passage of Jordan: yet when the matter it self is evident, that he did not once think of raising the camp, but by Gods direction, it is not unlike, that he inquired of God also what his pleasure was, concerning the sending of those espials: or else, because God saw that they had need of this aid for their confirmation, he did of himself inspire this counsel into his servant.