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…

2 Entered into the house, &c.) For what cause some interpreters do spare to call her an harlot, and expound the word ZONAH for a victualler, I see not at all: unless they thought it had ben a shame for them to lodge in an harlots house, or else were desirous to deliver the woman from the reproach of an harlot, which did not only gently entertain those messengers: but also by her singular good courage and wisdom, preserved them from danger. It is in deed an usual manner of the Jewish Rabbins, that they may save the honour ⟨image 13⟩of their nation, boldly to wrest the Scriptures, and with their vain glosses to pervert and change whatsoever seemeth not to sound honourably for them. Howbeit, it is like that whiles the messenger sought to avoid the sight & multitude of the people, they cam to this woman which dwelt in a blind corner. For her house joined unto the wall, yea the outmost wall of her house was set upon the wall of the city. Whereby it may be gathered, that it was a blind corner, far from the market place: like as harlots for the most part dwell in allies & solitary places of cities. And it is nothing like, that she was a common Innkeeper, which received all manner of guests that cam, for then could she not have had any liberty, for such familiar talk as she had with them, & she should have had very much a doe to have hid them. Wherefore thus I take it, that when they had privily stolen into the city, straight way they hid them selves in that corner. But whereas a woman before time given to that filthy kind of life, was soon after knit into the body of the elect people, that she might be made a member of the Church, it doeth more notably set forth and commend the grace of GOD, which entered even into the Stews, to draw from thence not only Rahab, but also her father and her brethren. Surely, seeing the name ZONAH doth every where almost signify an harlot, no reason can drive me in this place to refuse the usual signification thereof.

2 Entered into the house, &c.) For what cause some interpreters doe spare to call her an harlot, and expound the worde ZONAH for a viteller, I see not at all: vnlesse they thought it had ben a shame for them to lodge in an harlottes house, or else were desirous to deliuer the woman from the reproche of an harlot, which did not onely gently intertaine those messengers: but also by her singular good courage and wisedome, preferued them from daunger. It is in deede an vsual manner of the Iewish Rabbines, that they may saue the honour