17 Is it a small thing for us, &c.) They amplify the wickedness through their stubbornness, that they cease not to provoke God oftentimes with their abominations. They allege for that, a notable example, and that was fresh in memory. For when they did compass the Sanctuary, and the four quarters of the world, as good watchmen ⟨p. 95⟩of God, when they had a rule given them how to worship God aright, in which they were kept in continual exercise: yet they were deceived through the enticement of harlots, and defiled them selves with filthy superstitions, and worshipped Baal-peor. Because the whole people were entangled with this wickedness, the ten Ambassadors doubt not, to adjoin themselves as partakers of that offence. Therefore they demand, Is not that iniquity sufficient for us, which we committed about the idol of Peor? They add moreover, that they are not yet cleansed from it, as though they should say, The remembrance of it, is not yet buried: Or the vengeance of God yet quenched. Thereupon they gather, that the two tribes, and the half, while through wicked stubbornness they turn them selves from God, and cast off his yoke, do not only provide evil for them selves: but also procure like destruction for the whole people: because God will revenge this injury further: which they confirm also by the example of Achan, which when he alone, and that privily, had stolen of the accursed things, yet he alone suffered not punishment of his sacrilege: but drew other with him also: like as it well appeared, when some were slain in the field, and all the rest shamefully put to flight, because that pollution remained among the people. And they reason from the greater to the lesser: If the anger of God did burn against many, for the secret offence of one man, much less shall the people escape unpunished, if they dissemble, and will not revenge so manifest idolatry. Yet this mean and indifferent sentence is interlaced, that if the two tribes, and half, have builded this altar, as though their condition were worse, because they dwelled not in the land of Canaan: that they also might come, and dwell in the land of Canaan, rather than they should provoke God with false counterfeiting of his religion.
17 Is it a small thing for vs, &c.) They amplifie the wickednesse through their stubbornesse, that they cease not to prouoke God oftentimes with their abhominations. They alledge for that, a notable example, and that was fresh in memorie. For when they did compasse the Sanctuarie, and the foure quarters of the world, as good watchmen ⟨p. 95⟩of God, when they had a rule geuen them howe to worshippe God aright, in which they were kept in continuall exercise: yet they were deceiued through the entisement of harlots, and defiled them selues with filthie superstitions, and worshipped Baal-peor. Because the whole people were intangled with this wickednesse, the tenne Embassadours doubt not, to adioyne themselues as partakers of that offence. Therefore they demaund, Is not that iniquitie sufficient for vs, which we committed about the idol of Peor? They adde moreouer, that they are not yet clensed from it, as though they should say, The remembrance of it, is not yet buried: Or the vengeance of God yet quenched. Therevpon they gather, that the two tribes, and the halfe, while through wicked stubbornesse they turne them selues from God, and cast off his yoke, doe not onely prouide euill for them selues: but also procure like destruction for the whole people: because God will reuenge this iniurie further: which they confirme also by the example of Achan, which when he alone, and that priuily, had stolen of the accursed thinges, yet he alone suffered not punishment of his sacrilege: but drew other with him also: like as it well appeared, when some were slaine in the fielde, and all the rest shamefully put to flight, because that pollution remained among the people. And they reason from the greater to the lesser: If the anger of God did burne against many, for the secret offence of one man, much lesse shall the people escape vnpunished, if they dissemble, and will not reuenge so manifest idolatrie. Yet this meane and indifferent sentence is interlaced, that if the two tribes, and halfe, haue builded this altar, as though their condition were worse, because they dwelled not in the land of Chanaan: that they also might come, and dwell in the land of Chanaan, rather than they should prouoke God with false counterfeting of his religion.
