John Calvin Commentary Joshua 24:3

"And I took your father Abraham from beyond the River, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac." — Joshua 24:3 (ASV)

And I took your father Abraham, etc. This expression gives additional confirmation to what I recently showed: that Abraham did not emerge from profound ignorance and the abyss of error by his own merit, but was drawn out by the hand of God. For it is not said that he sought God of his own accord, but that he was taken by God and transported elsewhere.

Joshua then elaborates on the divine kindness in miraculously keeping Abraham safe during his long pilgrimage. What follows, however, raises some doubt—namely, that God multiplied Abraham's seed, and yet gave him only Isaac, because no mention is made of anyone but him. But this comparison illustrates God's singular grace towards them, in that while Abraham's offspring were otherwise numerous, their ancestor Isaac alone held the place of lawful heir.

In the same sense, it is immediately added that while Esau and Jacob were brothers and twins, one of the two was retained and the other passed over. We see, therefore, why in the case of Ishmael and his brother Isaac, as well as in that of Esau, he loudly extols the divine mercy and goodness towards Jacob, just as if he were saying that Jacob's lineage did not excel others in any respect except in being specially selected by God.