Joshua 11:6

King James Version (KJV)

And the Lord said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.

Adam Clarke
Bible Commentary

Be not afraid - of them - To meet such a formidable host so well equipped, in their own country, furnished with all that was necessary to supply a numerous army, required more than ordinary encouragement in Joshua's circumstances. This communication from God was highly necessary, in order to prevent the people from desponding on the eve of a conflict, in which their all was at stake.

Was this helpful?

Albert Barnes
Notes on the Whole Bible

Hough their horses - i. e. cut the sinews of the hinder hoofs. This sinew once severed cannot be healed, and the horses would thus be irreparably lamed. This is the first appearance of horses in the wars with the Canaanites (Deuteronomy 17:16 and note).

Was this helpful?

Matthew Henry
Concise Bible Commentary

The wonders God wrought for the Israelites were to encourage them to act vigorously themselves. Thus the war against Satan's kingdom, carried on by preaching the gospel, was at first forwarded by miracles; but being fully proved to be of God, we are now left to the Divine grace in the usual course, in the use of the sword of the Spirit. God encouraged Joshua. Fresh dangers and difficulties make it necessary to seek fresh supports from the word of God, which we have nigh unto us for use in every time of need. God proportions our trials to our strength, and our strength to our trials. Joshua's obedience in destroying the horses and chariots, shows his self-denial in compliance with God's command. The possession of things on which the carnal heart is prone to depend, is hurtful to the life of faith, and the walk with God; therefore it is better to be without worldly advantages, than to have the soul endangered by them.

Was this helpful?

SDA Bible Commentary (limited)
Volume 1-7

6. Will I deliver. This encouragement came the day before the Israelites were to meet the Canaanites in battle. In this statement the word “I” is emphatic: “I myself will deliver.” In this campaign God was going to be with the armies of Israel as definitely as He had been with them in the former campaign. True, the miracles might be less spectacular, but this was no evidence of a diminishing of divine help. The wonders God had wrought for Israel were not intended to lead them into inaction, rather they were to animate and encourage them to act vigorously for themselves. God would subdue the Canaanites by making Israel’s efforts effective. This would be as surely God’s work as though He had rained down great hailstones.

Miracles have often occurred at the beginning of new ventures, to provide a basis for faith and to give the assurance of divine assistance. Later they may become less frequent, not as a sign that God has forsaken His people, but as a token that He calls for greater faith to be exhibited by those who, though they have not seen, may thus learn to believe (John 20:29). In part, this principle explains the abundance of miracles at the opening of the Christian Era. But as historical evidence increases, the need for miracles decreases. Today, in the full blaze of Scriptural and historical evidence, there is sufficient basis for faith apart from any confirmatory supernatural sign. This does not mean, however, that the day of miracles is past. It is God who decides the need and the occasion for them.

Hough. The meaning of the Hebrew is to “hamstring,” that is, “to cut the large tendon above the hock.” The LXX also uses a word that means “to cut the tendon.” It was the practice of victors thus to treat the horses taken in battle, and for which they themselves had no use. Why was such a command given? Horses were used in Palestine for military purposes only, and God did not want Israel to put their trust in horses or chariots (Deut. 17:16; Ps. 20:7), but in Him alone. Furthermore, for Israel to have retained the horses would have been a double burden, since the horse is not suited for agriculture in Palestine. Israel was to be an agricultural and not a commercial people. They were not to rely on human resources for victory, nor were they to be a wandering military people with a large army. God purposed to remove such a temptation from them, and for this reason ordered the horses “hamstrung.”

Was this helpful?

Cross References

Be not

tomorrow