pp. 34–356 passages
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20 And they gave Hebron unto Caleb, as Moses said: and he expelled thence the three sons of Enak. 21 And the children of Benjamin did not caste out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem: Wherefore the Jebusites dwelled with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem, unto this day.
20 And they gaue Hebron vnto Chaleb, as Moyses sayd: and he expelled thence the three sonnes of Enak. 21 And the children of Beniamin dyd not caste oute the Iebusites that inhabited Ierusalem: Wherefore the Iebusites dwelled with the children of Beniamin in Ierusalem, vnto thys day.
This sentence is therefore repeated, because now the wars of the tribe of Judah are declared, of which wars, Caleb without doubt was the captain. Wherefore here is declared what he obtained. Namely those things which God would have done (as he had spoken by Moses) as it is written in the first chap. of Deut. and .xiii. chap. of Num. and xiiii. and xxv. chap. of Joshua. But that which is written after it how that the children of Benjamin did not caste out the Jebusites that inhabited Jerusalem, but dwelled together with them, pertaineth to those things, which the other tribes had to do with the Canaanites, and it beginneth with Benjamin for this cause, because that tribe was next to Judah, yea and that which is now written of Benjamin, 1is declared of the tribe of Judah in the book of Joshua toward the end of the xv. chap. And I think that that was therefore done, because the city of Jerusalem was in the limit of both the tribes, and was inhabited together both of them of Judah, and also of the Beniamites. Yea and some affirm that the part of the city where the temple stood belonged to the tribe of Benjamin, and to that purpose do they wrest that, which Jacob the Patriarch said on his death bed, when he blessed his son Benjamin: Benjamin is a ravening wolf, early taking his pray, in the morning, and dividing the spoils at even: thinking this oracle to belong to the morning and evening sacrifices of the Temple. But how truly they so do, I will not now reason. But yet they are not so far out of the way, as Augustine, which drew the saying of the Patriarch to Paul the Apostle, because he was of the tribe of Benjamin.
Thys sentence is therefore repeated, bicause now the warres of the tribe of Iudah are declared, of which warres, Chaleb without doubt was the captayne. Wherefore here is declared what he obteyned. Namely those thynges whiche God would haue done (as he had spoken by Moyses) as it is written in ye fyrste chap. of Deut. and .xiii. chap. of Num. and xiiii. and xxv. chap. of Iosuah. But that which is written after it how that the children of Beniamin dyd not caste out the Iebusites that inhabited Ierusalem, but dwelled together with them, perteyneth to those things, which the other tribes had to do with the Chananites, and it beginneth with Beniamin for thys cause, bycause that tribe was next to Iudah, yea and that which is now written of Beniamin, 1is declared of the tribe of Iudah in the booke of Iosuah toward the ende of the xv. chap. And I thynke that that was therfore done, bicause the citye of Ierusalem was in the limite of both the tribes, and was inhabited together both of them of Iudah, and also of the Beniamites. Yea and some affyrme that ye part of the citye where the temple stoode belonged to the tribe of Beniamin, and to that purpose do they wrest that, which Iacob the Patriarch sayd on his death bed, when he blessed hys sonne Beniamin: Beniamin is a rauenyng wolfe, early taking hys pray, in the morning, and deuiding the spoyles at euen: thynkyng thys oracle to belong to the morning and euenyng sacrifices of the Temple. But howe truly they so doe, I will not nowe reason. But yet they are not so farre oute of the waye, as Augustine, whiche drewe the saying of the Patriarche to Paule the Apostle, bycause he was of the tribe of Beniamin.
1I am not ignorant, how the Hebrews write, that the Jebusites were not cast out for this cause, because that Judas and Benjamin would keep the covenant, which (as it is written in the xxi. chapter of Gen.) was made between Abraham and Abimilech King of the Gerarites, where the most holy Patriarch sware, that he would not molest neither the same Abimilech, neither his children, nor yet his children's children, wherefore seeing he and his posterity inhabited Jerusalem, and his children's children lived even to this time, they say it was not lawful for the Hebrews, for because of their oath given, to caste them out. But afterward under David, the time of the covenant was out, because then were the children's children of Abimilech worn out. And for that cause David did caste out the Jebusites out of the city of Jerusalem, as it is written in the latter book of Samuel the v. chapter. But these are but fables, yea if we look in the foresaid book of Samuel we shall find, that the strong fenced Castle of that city was the cause that the Jebusites were not caste out before.
1I am not ignoraunt, how the Hebrues write, that the Iebusites were not cast out for thys cause, bycause that Iudas and Beniamin would kepe the couenaunt, which (as it is written in the xxi. chapter of Gen.) was made betwene Abraham and Abimilech King of the Gerarites, where the moste holy Patriarche sware, that he woulde not molest neyther the same Abimilech, neyther hys children, nor yet hys childrens children, wherefore seing he and hys posteritye inhabited Ierusalem, and hys childrens children liued euen to thys tyme, they saye it was not lawfull for the Hebrues, for bycause of theyr othe geuen, to caste them oute. But afterwarde vnder Dauid, the tyme of the couenaunte was oute, bycause then were the childrens children of Abimilech worne out. And for that cause Dauid dyd caste out the Iebusites oute of the citye of Ierusalem, as it is written in the latter booke of Samuel the v. chapter. But these are but fables, yea if we looke in the foresayde booke of Samuell we shall fynde, that the strong fenced Castle of that citye was the cause that the Iebusites were not caste oute before.
For David to the end be would obtain the castle, promised a noble reward to him that could conquer it, namely that he would make him Captain of the whole host of Israel: 1which office Joab obtained, because he first of all Conquered the Castle. There were two causes why they of Judah and the Beniamites did not caste out the Jebusites out of the city. One was because they obeyed not the word of God as they should have done: wherefore they are much to be blamed. The other cause was, because by the providence of God, and his most wise dispensation, the whole victory of these nations was reserved for David and Solomon. For so God abuseth the since of men, that they hinder not but set forward his Counsels, specially for the advancing of his elect.
For Dauid to ye end be would obtayne ye castle, promised a noble reward to him that coulde conquere it, namely that he woulde make hym Captayne of the whole hoste of Israel: 1whiche office Ioab obtayned, bycause he fyrste of all Conquered the Castle. There were two causes why they of Iudah and ye Beniamites dyd not caste oute the Iebusites out of the citye. One was bycause they obeyed not the worde of God as they should haue done: wherfore they are muche to bee blamed. The other cause was, bycause by the prouidence of God, and hys moste wyse dispensation, the whole victorye of these nations was reserued for Dauid and Salomon. For so God abuseth the synnes of men, that they hynder not but set forwarde hys Counselles, specially for the aduauncyng of hys electe.
But to return to the Hebrews how should they know that the posterity of Abimilech dwelled in Jerusalem. The Scripture testifieth no such thing. Neither can they tell whether Abimilech & his stock belonged to the Jebusites. Wherefore let us leave their feigned opinion unto themselves,1 & let us follow this sentence now alleged, as the truer. But this is not to be overskipped, that Jerusalem was sometimes called Jebus. For as much as the .xix. chapter of this book testifieth the same, & also the first book of Paralipomenon in the xi. chap. ⟨p. 35⟩The sum is, the Jebusites possessed the castle, which being well fenced, & for as much as God had justly with drawn his help for the Hebrews, they could not be driven out of it, but Benjamin and the tribe of Judah obtained the City in the mean time.2 Unto which city Saul and David went after they had gotten the victory against the Philistines, and David himself brought thither the head of Goliath whom he had slain. Peradventure that city seemed mete for that triumph, because it was common to the tribe of Judah and Benjamin, unto which tribes David and Saul belonged. For as David was of the tribe of Judah, so was Saul a Beniamite.
But to retourne to the Hebrues howe shoulde they knowe that the posteritye of Abimilech dwelled in Ierusalem. The Scripture testifyeth no suche thyng. Neyther can they tel whether Abimilech & his stocke belonged to the Iebusites. Wherfore let vs leaue their fayned opinion vnto thēselues,1 & let vs follow this sentence nowe alledged, as the truer. But this is not to bee ouerskipped, that Ierusalem was sometymes called Iebus. For as muche as the .xix. chapter of this boke testifyeth the same, & also the fyrst booke of Paralipomenon in the xi. chap. ⟨p. 35⟩The summe is, the Iebusites possessed the castle, whiche being well fensed, & for as much as God had iustly with drawen his helpe for the Hebrewes, they could not be dryuen out of it, but Beniamin and the tribe of Iudah obtayned the Citie in the meane time.2
And the Jebusites dwelled in Jerusalem, unto this day. That is even to the time of Samuel who is thought to have written this book. For afterward came David, when he ruled over all Israel and expelled the Jebusites from thence, as it is said.
And the Iebusites dwelled in Ierusalem, vnto this day. That is euen to the time of Samuel who is thought to haue written this booke. For afterwarde came Dauid, when he ruled ouer all Israel and expelled the Iebusites from thence, as it is sayd.
