The [things] which could intercept the spies’ access into the Jericho-city seem to someone to have been two. One, the Jordan river itself, which — without a huge miracle — the army of the Israelites could not cross, below ch. 3 v. 15–16. The other, [that] of the enemies — the watch-posts [excubiae] and sentinel-outposts [speculae] disposed at the barriers [claustra] of the routes, and the soldiers’ stations. For that thus [it] was wont to be done, both military discipline and historical experience teach. To the former, someone might say (as from Abulensis quest. 12 [it] is suggested) [that] perhaps these [spies] too crossed by a divine miracle. For God could dry up the channel [alveus] of the river for them, as once for the Israelites in the Red Sea; and could make firm their steps over its waters, as Matt. 14; [he] could — [he] who would transfer them — either make a fish rise up (as the Gentiles once fabled of Amphion), or any other beast whatever; [he] could suddenly constitute either a ship or a bridge, and finally raise [them] into the air, and — in the likeness of Habakkuk (Daniel 14:35), or of that most chaste Ammon, of whom [is spoken] in the Lives of the Fathers, or (as the Jews indeed trifle) an ark [arca] — transport them; or even [that] they themselves, as if [as] winged [birds] (as the ancient fabulators recount [that] Daedalus did), give [themselves] wings and flight. The Lord could indeed [do] these [things], and many others, much [more] and greater — and especially if the other of the spies, as in the Rabbins’ trifles, had been an Angel. But if a miracle of this kind had happened, how would scripture keep silent? how would the spies, now returned, not have narrated [it] before all [things]? For there could be no more accommodated narration for exciting and confirming the minds of all. Therefore the natural manner of crossing [is] to be affirmed, which indeed was either “swimming” [natatus] or rather “wading” [vadatio]. For we read [of] the fords [vada] of the Jordan, Judges 3:28, ch. 12 v. 5, and this ch. 3
(col. 334, below the divider)
—v. 7. As if [to work out] whence, and how, these [spies] had come to Jericho, the Jerichoites would sniff [them] out; [they] followed them “by the way which leads to the fords of the Jordan.” But by those [fords] the whole forces of the Israelites could not afterward wade — because (as below ch. 3 [it will be] said) the river then more vehemently overflowed [exundavit]. And we see, not rarely, [that] by a copiousness of rains, or by the melting of ice and snows, in the space of a very few hours, not the greater rivers [alone], but rivulets and streams [too], so swell [intumescere] — [such] that where before, with almost one step, [it] was allowed to cross, afterward scarcely by little boats [scaphae] is it permitted. And in the praise of strong men we see [it] elsewhere recorded, that, with the same river overflowing, they nevertheless crossed it — 1 Chron. 12:15. But even if to someone, in the Israelites’ camp too, [they] could with the same fortitude of mind cross the fords — yet [how] the whole multitude? so many women, little children, cattle? To the latter. If it should please someone even to invent [comminisci] miracles, [God] could [bring] either ἀορασία [aorasia, “non-seeing, blindness”] and blindness — such as Gen. 19:11, 4 Kings [2 Kings] 6:18 we read — or a lethargic sopor [drowsiness], as 1 [Sam.] 29:7; or a Panic terror, as the same book ch. 14 v. 13; or bring forth something similar. But [it] sufficiently appears [that] there was a marvelous either security [complacency], or sloth [desidia], and stupidity of the Jerichoites, who — in so great a proximity of the enemies — did none of those [things] which even the least skill of the military art prescribes. But of this again elsewhere. Meanwhile [note] that [saying] of Polybius bk. 9: ἡ τῶν ἄλλων ἀπειρία μέγιστον ἐφόδιον γίνεται τοῖς ἐμπείροις πρὸς σωτηρίαν [hē tōn allōn apeiria megiston ephodion ginetai tois empeirois pros sōtērian — reading approximate], that is: “The inexperience [imperitia] of others is the greatest viaticum [way-provision], or aid, to the experienced, for prosperity [safety].”