John Calvin on Joshua 8:33-35

33. And all Israel, and their elders, etc The third instance of obedience was the placing all the tribes on Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal to stand in six rows each over against each other. For they were so arranged that six stood on Mount Ebal, and an equal number on the opposite Mount Gerizim. The intervening space was occupied by the Levites with the ark of the covenant, that the Lord might be surrounded on all sides by his own people. It is said that Joshua stood that he might first bless the people, as it was the purpose of God to allure the people to himself by sweetness and winning condescension. For although Moses, to rebuke the obstinacy of the people, makes mention of curses only, it is certain that these were in a manner accidental, because the genuine method was to employ blessings as a means of gaining over to obedience those who might otherwise have proved refractory. But when humane invitation proved unavailing, curses were added as a new resource and remedy.

God had promised ample rewards to his servants who should obey the Law. On the other hand, curses were denounced in order to deter transgressors. Each is now forced to subscribe his own condemnation, while an amen is responded to every single sentence. For in this way they not only hear themselves condemned by the mouth of God, but as if they had been heralds sent by him, they denounce the punishment which may await themselves. A similar promulgation was made in the plain of Moab beyond the Jordan, but now they are bound more solemnly, and acknowledge on what condition they are to dwell in the land of Canaan. It added no little weight to the whole, that the children also were admitted as witnesses.

CHAPTER 9

Joshua 9:1-15

1. And it came to pass, when all the kings which were on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard thereof,

1. Quum autem audissent omnes reges qui erant trans Jordanem in monte, et in planitie, et in toto tractu marls magni e regione Libani, Hitthaeus, Amorrhaeus, Chananaeus, Pherisaeus, Hivaeus, et Jebusaeus,

2. That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.

2. Congregaverunt se pariter ad pugnandum cum Josue et Israel uno consensu.

3. And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,

3. Habitatores vero Gibeon au-dientes quod fecerat Josue urbi Jericho et Hai,

4. They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine-bottles, old, and rent, and bound up;

4. Egerunt etiam ipsi callide. Nam abierunt et finxerunt se legatos esse, et tulerunt saccos vetustos, in suis asinis, et utres vini vestustos, et ruptos ac colligatos,

5. And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy.

5. Et calceamenta vetusta, et resarta in pedibus suis, et vestes re. tustas super se, et torus panis viatici eorum aridus ac mucidus.

6. And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country; now therefore make yea league with us.

6. Perrexerunt ergo ad Josuam in castra in Gilgal, dixeruntque ei et viris Israel, E terra longinqua venimus, itaque nunc percutite nobiscum foedus.

7. And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure you dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you?

7. Tune responderunt viri Israel ad Hivaeum, Forte in medio mei tu habitas, et quomodo percutiam tocum foedus?

8. And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are you? and from whence come you?

8. At illi dixerunt ad Josuam, Servi tui sumus. Quibus ait Josua, Quinam estis, et unde venistis?

9. And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the Lord thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt,

9. Responderunt ei, E terra longinqua valde venerunt servi tui in nomine Jehovae Dei tui. Audivimus enim famam ejus, et quaecunque fecit in AEgypto,

10. And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth.

10. Quaecunque item fecit duobus regibus Amorrhaei, qui erant trans Jordanem, Sihon regi Hesebon, et Og regi Basan in Astaroth.

11. Wherefore our elders, and all the inhabitants of our country, spoke to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: therefore now make yea league with us.

11. Dixeruntque nobis seniores nostri, et emnes habitatores terrae nostrae, Tollite in manu vestra escam pro itinere, et ite in occursum eorum, ac dicite illis, Servi vestri sumus, et nunc percutite nobiscum foedus.

12. This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy:

12. Iste est panis noster, calidum pro viatico paravimus e domibus nostris quo die egressi sumus ut veniremus ad vos, nunc autem aruit, et siccus est.

13. And these bottles of wine which we filled were new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey.

13. Et isti sunt utres vini, quos impleverimus novos, et ecce rupti sunt. Et ista vestimenta nostra, et calceamenta nostra vetustate attrita sunt ob longum iter.

14. And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord.

14. Sumpserunt ergo viri de viatico eorum, et os Jehovae non interrogaverunt.

15. And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation swear unto them.

15. Et fecit cum eis Josue pa-cem, et percussit cum eis foedus quod sineret cos vivere, juraveruntque eis principes congregationis.