Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Joshua 11:6
And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them: for tomorrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hamstring their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.
6. And the Lord said ] We may believe that Joshua was already some way on the march when these encouraging words were addressed to him. The distance from his encampment to the waters of Merom was too great for him to reach the latter place between one day and the next.
thou shalt hough their horses ] So especially formidable to the Israelites, who had none. The word “hough” also occurs in 2Sa 8:4, where we read that David “ houghed all the chariot horses.” It comes from the A. S. hoh, and means to cut the ham-strings or back sinews of cattle, so as to disable them and render them utterly unfit for use, since the sinew, once severed, can never be healed again, and as a rule the arteries are cut at the same time, so that the horses bleed to death. In the late version of Wyclif the verse is rendered, “Thou shalt hoxe the horsis of hem,” while in the earlier version it runs, “The hors of hem thow shalt kut of the synewis at the knees ” “Hox” is the form found in Shakespeare,
“If thou inclin’st that way, thou art a coward;
Which hoxes honesty behind, restraining
From course requir’d”. Winter’s Tale, 1. 2. 243.
The Scotch hoch is used in the same way.
and burn their chariots ] of which it is said (Jos 17:18) that they were iron chariots, i.e. had wheels with iron tires. Scythe-chariots were first introduced by Cyrus: Xen. Cyrop. VI. 1. 30.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
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 (Deu 17:16 and note).
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 6. 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.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Hough their horses, i.e. cut their hamstrings, that they may be unfit for war. For God forbade them to have or keep many horses, Deu 17:16, now especially, that they might not trust to their horses, as men are apt to do, nor distrust God for want of so necessary a help in battle; nor ascribe the conquest of the land to their own strength, but wholly to God, by whose power alone a company of raw and unexperienced footmen were able to subdue so potent a people, which besides their great numbers, and giants, and walled cities, had the advantage of many thousands of horses and chariots.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
6-8. to-morrow, about this time willI deliver them up all slain before IsraelAs it was impossibleto have marched from Gilgal to Merom in one day, we must supposeJoshua already moving northward and within a day’s distance of theCanaanite camp, when the Lord gave him this assurance of success.With characteristic energy he made a sudden advance, probably duringthe night, and fell upon them like a thunderbolt, when scatteredalong the rising grounds (Septuagint), before they had time torally on the plain. In the sudden panic “the Lord delivered theminto the hand of Israel, who smote them, and chased them.” Therout was complete; some went westward, over the mountains, above thegorge of the Leontes, to Sidon and Misrephothmaim (“glass-smeltinghouses”), in the neighborhood, and others eastward to the plainof Mizpeh.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And the Lord said unto Joshua, be not afraid because of them,…. Of their number, of their horsemen, and of their scythed chariots; which might at first hearing occasion some fear and dread. And according to Josephus f, the multitude of them terrified both Joshua and the Israelites; and therefore the Lord appeared and spoke to him for his encouragement: though what was said was for the sake of the Israelites, and to animate them who might be disheartened, rather than for the sake of Joshua, who was of a bold and courageous spirit. Whether this was said to him at Gilgal, and out of the tabernacle there, quickly after the tidings of the combination of the kings were brought to him, or whether when upon his march towards them, is uncertain:
for tomorrow about this time will I deliver them up slain before Israel; as many were, and others wounded and put to flight, as the word signifies, so as to be as good as dead. If Gilgal was twenty two miles from the waters of Merom, as Bunting says g, and supposing this to be said to him before he set out, he must travel all night to reach thither the next day; and if it was sixty miles, as some say, this must be said to him when on his march, and within a day’s march of the enemy; for Josephus says h it was on the fifth day that he came up with them, and fell upon them:
thou shalt hough their horses; cut their nerves under their hams, or hamstring them, so that they might be useless hereafter; for the kings of Israel were not to multiply horses; and Joshua, as their chief ruler, was to have no advantage of them by their falling into his hands:
and burn their chariots with fire; that so they might not be used by the Israelites afterwards, who might be tempted to put their trust and confidence in them, as many did.
f Antiqu. l. 5. c. 1. sect. 18. g Travels, p. 96. h Ut supra. (Antiqu. l. 5. c. 1. sect. 18.)
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
6. And the Lord said unto, Joshua, etc The greater the labor and difficulty of destroying an army, so numerous and so well equipped, the more necessary was it to inspire them with new confidence. The Lord, therefore, appears to his servant Joshua, and promises the same success as he had previously given him on several occasions. It is to be carefully observed, that as often as he reiterates his promises men are reminded of their forgetfulness, or their sloth, or their fickleness. For unless new nourishment is every now and then given to faith, they forthwith faint and fall away. (111) And yet such is our perverse fastidiousness, that to hear the same thing twice is usually felt to be irksome. Wherefore let us learn, as often as we are called to engage in new contests, to recall the remembrance of the divine promises, which may correct our languor, or rouse us from our sloth. And especially let us make an application of that which is here said in general, to our daily practice; as the Lord now intimates, that that which he had declared concerning all nations would be specially sure and stable on the present occasion.
We infer from the account of the time employed, that these kings had marched a considerable distance, in order to attack Joshua and the people in Gilgal. For immediately after the divine intimation, mention is made of the expedition used by Joshua. (112) He is promised the victory on the following day. Hence they were not far distant. And the lake of Merom, where they had pitched their camp, is contiguous to the Jordan, and much nearer to Gilgal than Gennesaret, from which district some of the enemy had come. (113) It is said that this lake diminishes or increases according to the freezing of the snow on the mountains, or to its melting. Moreover, the command given to Joshua and the people, to cut the legs or thighs of the horses, and to burn the chariots, was undoubtedly intended to prevent them from adopting those more studied modes of warfare which were in use among profane nations. It was indeed necessary that they should serve as soldiers, and fight strenuously with the enemy, but still they were to depend only on the Lord, to consider themselves strong only in his might, and to recline on him alone.
This could scarcely have been the case, if they had been provided with cavalry, and an array of chariots. For we know how such showy equipment dazzles the eye, and intoxicates the mind with overweening confidence. Moreover, a law had been enacted, (Deu 17:16) that their kings were not to provide themselves with horses and chariots, obviously because they would have been extremely apt to ascribe to their own military discipline that which God claimed for himself. Hence the common saying, (Psa 20:7)
“
Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.”
God wished to deprive them of all stimulants to audacity, in order that they might live quietly contented with their own limits, and not unjustly attack their neighbors. And experience showed, that when a bad ambition had impelled their kings to buy horses, they engaged in wars not less rashly than unsuccessfully. It was necessary, therefore, to render the horses useless for war, by cutting their sinews, and to destroy the chariots, in order that the Israelites might not become accustomed to the practices of the heathen.
(111) French, “ Elle secoule et evanouist; “It” (faith) “melts and vanishes.” — Ed.
(112) Latin, “ Oraculo enim subnectitur expeditio Josue.” French, “ Car l’expedition de Josue est conjointe avec l’avertissement que Dieu luy donne;” “For the expedition of Joshua is conjoined with the intimation which God gives him.” — Ed.
(113) Latin, “ Et lacus Merom, ubi castra locaverant, qui Jordani contiguns est, longe propius accedit ad Gilgal quam Gennesara ex cujus tractu pars hostium profecta erat.” French, “ Et le lac de Merom ou ils s’estoyent campez, qui est contigu au Jourdain, approche beaucoup plus pres de Gilgal que ne fait Genesara, du rivage duquel ume partie des ennemis s’estoit levee;” “And the lake of Merom, where they had encamped, which is contiguous to the Jordan, approaches much nearer to Gilgal than Gennesaret does, on the shores of which a part of the enemy had been raised.” The geographical details here given, and more especially those relating to the lake of Merom, are both defective and inaccurate. The impression left by the Commentary is, that after the kings, composing this formidable league, had united their forces, they began to march southwards, and had arrived within a moderate distance of Gilgal, where they probably expected to come suddenly on Joshua, and take him by surprise. Meanwhile they encamped by the lake of Merom, and Joshua having, in consequence of a divine intimation, set out hastily with his army, gives them the surprise which they expected to have given him. According to this view, the lake of Merom was comparatively near to Gilgal, and hence this is distinctly asserted in the Latin and French quotation which commences this note. The French says plainly, that there was a shorter distance to Gilgal from the lake of Merom than from that of Gennesaret. And the Latin, though not free from ambiguity, says, either the same thing or something still more inaccurate, namely, that the lake of Merom was nearer to Gilgal than to the lake of Gennesaret. On the contrary, it is now well known that the lake of Merom, the modern El Hule, is situated ten miles to the north of the lake of Gennesaret, and consequently is exactly that number of miles farther from Gilgal than the lake of Gennesaret is, the distances of the lakes from Gilgal being respectively, for Merom, about seventy-five, and for Gennesaret sixty-five miles. Such being the fact, it is obvious that Joshua could not have been at Gilgal when he was honored with a divine communication, promising him the victory on the following day. The true state of the case seems to be, that after Joshua had conquered the central and southern parts of the country, a number of kings or chiefs, whose territories extended over the whole of the north of the promised land, entered into a common league, and appointed the lake of Merom as their place of rendezvous. Joshua, well informed of the league, and alive to its formidable nature, did not wait to give the enemy time to mature their schemes, or remain inert till they were actually within a day’s march of his camp, but set out with a determination to act on the offensive, and with this view had advanced far to the north, into the very heart of the enemy’s country, when any fears which their formidable array might have produced, either in himself or his army, were completely removed by the assurance of speedy and signal success. — Ed.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(6) Thou shalt hough their horses.See Note on Jos. 11:9, and observe that the command of Jehovah is the authority for the act.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
6. Be not afraid The vast multitude of enemies provided with war chariots, instruments which Joshua had probably never before encountered in battle, would naturally awaken fear in the Hebrew army and its great leader. To allay this the Lord, whose opportunity is man’s extremity, interposes words of cheer and a promise of victory. It is not said that Joshua asked for this, but it was doubtless given in answer to prayer.
Tomorrow about this time Only the God of battles can foretell the very day and hour of his people’s triumph.
Thou shalt hough their horses They were to disable their horses by cutting the sinews of their legs. For this barbarous treatment of the horse we have in modern English the verb to hamstring. As the multiplication of horses was forbidden by God, (Deu 17:16,) they would have been a useless booty.
Burn their chariots For they also would have been only a cumbrance to the Hebrews.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘ And YHWH said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid because of them, for tomorrow about this time I will deliver them up all slain before Israel. You shall hough their horses and burn their chariots with fire.” ’
Joshua again sought the guidance of YHWH in the face of these powerful forces and YHWH assured him that he need fear nothing, for on the next day the whole force would be delivered into Joshua’s hand. And this was so certain that He now gave instructions as to what to do with the horses and chariots after the battle. The hocks of the horses were to be cut rendering them useless for warfare, and the chariots were to be burned with fire. In consequence it would be a long time before they could be replaced and meanwhile the conquest of the land could take place satisfactorily. But Israel were not to try to make use of them (Isa 31:1; Psa 20:7). They must trust in YHWH. These instructions, especially reference to the next day, suggests that Joshua had already brought his army across towards the enemy in a forced march.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Ver. 6. And the Lord said unto Joshua This was spoken in the camp at Gilgal. It is difficult to conceive how this matter could have been literally accomplished; since, from Gilgal to Hazor was sixty or eighty miles; and Josephus says, that Joshua was five days going from Gilgal to the camp of the kings. The word to-morrow, therefore, must be taken in a vague sense, to signify soon, in a day or two; or else we must conclude, that Joshua was already on his march, and near the enemy’s camp, when God promised him victory. But for a full discussion of this subject, we refer the reader to an excellent dissertation of Psalmanazar, Essays, p. 215.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
I beg the Reader to remark with me on this verse, how gracious the Lord is to his servants, in the repeated communications of his assured love and favor. Joshua had been told by his God, that he would certainly be with him, and that he should certainly conquer all his enemies. But yet you see the merciful and gracious Lord, will again remind him of his promise. Oh, thou dear Lord of thy people, how precious are thy constant communications of grace, and how much do’ thy fearful, unbelieving people need them, and to be receiving fresh supplies, upon every fresh occasion, out of thy fulness, and grace for grace. Thus you see, that a life of faith upon our all-precious Jesus, is a receiving life. Joh 1:16 . I hope the spiritual Reader will not fail to observe with me, that Joshua was a type of our Almighty Joshua in his spiritual encounter with his enemies. God the Father promised to support the human nature of Jesus, with suited strength for every emergency. Compare Heb 5:7-8 , with Psa 89:19 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jos 11:6 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.
Ver. 6. Be not afraid because of them. ] Though many, and mighty, and malicious, and combined. Joshua had his fears and frailties; else what needed this encouragement? a
I will deliver them.
Thou shalt hough their horses.
a Si modo victor eras, ad crastina bella pavebas.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED TEXT): Jos 11:6-9
6Then the LORD said to Joshua, Do not be afraid because of them, for tomorrow at this time I will deliver all of them slain before Israel; you shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire. 7So Joshua and all the people of war with him came upon them suddenly by the waters of Merom, and attacked them. 8The LORD delivered them into the hand of Israel, so that they defeated them, and pursued them as far as Great Sidon and Misrephoth-maim and the valley of Mizpeh to the east; and they struck them until no survivor was left to them. 9Joshua did to them as the LORD had told him; he hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots with fire.
Jos 11:6 Again YHWH (emphatic personal PRONOUN) encourages Joshua (cf. Jos 1:5; Jos 1:9; Jos 10:8) in the face of the overwhelming military superiority of the Canaanite chariot force. This is YHWH’s battle and victory, not Israel’s (cf. Jdg 7:2; 1Sa 17:45; 1Sa 17:47; 2Ch 32:8; Psa 20:7; Psa 33:16-17; Psa 44:2-3; Psa 44:5-7; Zec 4:6).
hamstring This (BDB 785, KB 874, Piel IMPERFECT, cf. Jos 11:9; 2Sa 8:4; 1Ch 18:4) involved cutting the tendons of the back legs so that the horses could not pull chariots. Joshua was not to rely on their captured weaponry (burn the chariots with fire, BDB 976, KB 1358, Qal IMPERFECT, cf. Jos 11:9), but on YHWH (cf. Jos 11:8).
Chariots were the ultimate military weapon of this period and area. Their origin and exact design are uncertain (Hyksos or Hittites). The different chariots could hold
1. the driver and a soldier
2. the driver and two soldiers
They were usually pulled by two horses. The term iron could refer to:
1. the sides being reinforced
2. the wheels, rims, or axles
They were effective only on relatively flat ground.
Jos 11:8 as far as Great Sidon This shows the ancientness of this account. Sidon was the contemporary capital of Phoenicia, but later it was Tyre.
NASB, NRSVMisrephoth-maim
NKJVto the Brook Misrephoth
TEVMisrephoth Maim
NJBMisrephoth to the west
The Jewish Publication Society of America’s (JPSOA) translation supports the NJB’s translation in a footnote. See note at Jos 13:6.
Jos 11:9 Why did Israel destroy these captured weapons of war? Chariots were the ultimate military weapon of that day. The theories are: (1) they were to trust in YHWH, not weaponry or (2) the chariots were only usable on the coastal plains (or other flat areas). Number 1 fits the context of Joshua best.
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
the LORD. Hebrew. Jehovah. App-4.
said. See note on Jos 3:7.
hough = sever the hamstring.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Be not: Jos 10:8, Psa 27:1, Psa 27:2, Psa 46:11
morrow: Jos 3:5, Jdg 20:28, 1Sa 11:9, 2Ch 20:16, hough, Jos 11:9, 2Sa 8:4
horses: Deu 7:16, Psa 20:7, Psa 20:8, Psa 46:9, Psa 147:10, Psa 147:11, Pro 20:7, Isa 30:16, Isa 31:1, Hos 14:3
Reciprocal: Gen 41:25 – God Jos 6:2 – I have Jdg 1:4 – Lord Jdg 4:7 – deliver 1Sa 30:1 – the Amalekites 2Ki 19:6 – Be not afraid 1Ch 18:4 – David 2Ch 20:15 – Be not afraid Psa 44:7 – But Isa 37:6 – Be not Eze 39:9 – and shall
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Jos 11:6. I will deliver them up all slain The Seventy translate this , put to flight: and it is certain they were not all slain, but many of them fled. The meaning therefore can only be, that they should be so broken and scattered by that time, as to have no more power to resist than dead men. Thou shalt hough their horses Disable them for war, by cutting the sinews of the ham. They might, however, be still fit for other uses. God forbade them to keep many horses, now especially, that they might not trust to their horses, nor ascribe the conquest of the land to their own strength, but wholly to God, by whose power alone a company of raw and unexperienced footmen were able to subdue so potent a people, who, besides their great numbers, and giants, and walled cities, had the advantage of many thousands of horses and chariots.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
11:6 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 {d} hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.
(d) That neither they should serve to the use of war, nor the Israelites should put their trust in them.