Commentary on Joshua

The Argument of the Booke of Iosue.

COncerning the author of this booke, it is better that we shoulde suspend our iudgement, than that we should affirme any thing of so vncerteine a matter. They which thinke it was Iosue, because it is intituled of his name, leane vppon a verie slight and weake reason. For the holy historie beareth the name of Samuel, in which notwithstanding is a rehersal of such maters as followed after his death. And surely, the booke which followeth next in order, is not therfore called the booke of Iudges, because it was written by them: but because it reporteth such things as were done by them, and vnder their gouernment. Now that historie which is reported in the. 15. Chapter of the taking of the two cities Hebron & Debir, was executed after the death of Iosue. It were therefore a more likely coniecture to thinke, that the principall summes of matters were gathered together by Eliazar the high Priest, out of which this booke was compiled & made. For it was his peculiar charge, not only to teach the people of his age by his owne voyce while he liued: but also to leaue a testimonie vnto the posteritie of the grace of God in preseruing his Church, that true religion might the better be enlarged. And before the Leuites grewe out of kinde from their first institutiō, they had among them by order as it were publike Notaries or Registrers, which committed to perpetuall memorie, whatsoeuer was worthie to be remembred in the gouernment of the Church. But as for that which is not certeinly knowen vnto vs, neither yet is verie necessarie to be knowen, let vs not be loath to leaue it in doubt and vncerteintie: so long as we are certeine of that which is the cheefest point, namely, that the doctrine which is conteined in this booke, is inspired of the holie Ghost for our profite, out of which no small fruite may be receiued of the diligent and attentiue readers.

For although the people hauing before this time obteined notable victories, dwelled in a countrie that was of reasonable commodities, and meanelie good fruitfulnesse: yet the promise of God concerning the land of Chanaan remained still in suspense, & wanted execution. Yea, the chiefest point of the couenant, as yet did lacke the effect & performaunce: as though that God, after he had cast the people into a narrowe corner, had geuen ouer his enterprise, and left it maymed and vnperfect.

This booke therefore declareth, that when the intollerable vngodlinesse of the people had broken off the course of their deliuerance, yet God notwithstanding in taking punishment of their sinnes, did so temper the rigour of his iudgement, that neuerthelesse at the length he performed whatsoeuer he promised of the inheritance of the land of Chanaan. Where also we meete with a verie profitable consideration: that although men being taken away by death, doe faile in the middest of their course, yet the faith of Gods promise neuer falleth away. There seemed to followe by the death of Moses an heauie chaunge & conuersion of the state. The people were left as a body whose head was cut off. In this so great feare of their dispersion, appeared not only the immortall truth of God, which neuer dieth, though men decay, but also in the person of Iosue was declared and shewed as it were in a notable cleare glasse, that when God taketh away those men, whom he hath adorned with singular gifts, he hath enow in store, whom he can set vp in their place: and that, although he will haue some men to excell for a time, yet his power is not so tied vnto their persons, but he can finde successours for them, whensoeuer it pleaseth him: yea, he can raise vp men of stones, which shalbe meete to take in hand the greatest affaires.

First of all therefore, when the passage through the redde Sea, in the space of 40. yeeres, by which God led the people through the wildernesse, was almost growne out of remembrance, by the same miracle in the passage of the riuer Iordan, the continuall tenure & course of their deliuerance was againe renewed & continued. As for the renewing of Circumcision was as much, as if God should afresh establish his couenant, which through the shamefull negligence of the people was buried, or through their infidelitie & despaire reiected. Then it followeth, howe by the hande of God they were brought into the possession of the lande of promise.

The taking of the first citie was an earnest & pledge vnto them of that vertue & power of God, which they should hope for in all the rest, while at the only sound of the trumpettes the walles of Hiericho were shaken & fell downe of their owne accorde. And yet these nations were not discomfited in one battell, nor chased away by warres of short continuance: but by litle & litle they were spent and wasted away by many painefull conflictes. Where also it is to be noted, that the people had many great difficulties laid in their way, whiles the Kings that were their enimies conspiring together, gathered all their forces into one, and so came to fight against them, so that they had not warre with euerie people seuerally, & at sundrie times, but with an infinite multitude, which might haue runne ouer the Israelites all at one brunt. But these their violent attempts in the end haue this issue, that whiles the power of God sheweth it selfe to be aboue them, his mercie also and faithfulnesse in defence of his elect people shineth more gloriously. Vndoubtedly, that continuall course of their happie successe, & so many wonderfull victories, did openly represent the hand of God as it were stretcht out of heauen to help them. But this was a most manifest proofe that they warred vnder the conduct of God himselfe, that at the request of Iosue the course of the Sunne was stayed, as though all creatures of the world being armed vnto his aide, were present at his commaundement.