Joshua 11:6

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the LORD {H3068} said {H559} unto Joshua {H3091}, Be not afraid {H3372} because {H6440} of them: for to morrow {H4279} about this time {H6256} will I deliver them up {H5414} all slain {H2491} before {H6440} Israel {H3478}: thou shalt hough {H6131} their horses {H5483}, and burn {H8313} their chariots {H4818} with fire {H784}.

Complete Jewish Bible

ADONAI said to Y'hoshua, "Don't be afraid on their account; because at this time tomorrow I will hand them over, all of them dead, before Isra'el. You are to hamstring their horses and burn up their chariots."

Berean Standard Bible

Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, for by this time tomorrow I will deliver all of them slain before Israel. You are to hamstring their horses and burn up their chariots.”

American Standard Version

And Jehovah said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them; for to-morrow at this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel: thou shalt hock their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Joshua 11:6 presents a crucial divine mandate and promise from the LORD to Joshua, delivered as Israel prepared to face a formidable northern coalition. This verse reassures Joshua against fear, guarantees a decisive victory by the following day, and issues specific, counter-intuitive instructions to hamstring the enemy's horses and burn their chariots. It profoundly underscores God's absolute sovereignty in warfare, demands Israel's radical obedience, and establishes the theological principle that divine power, not worldly might, is the sole source of true victory.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Joshua 11:6 is strategically placed within the narrative of Israel's conquest of Canaan, marking a pivotal shift from the southern and central campaigns (chapters 6-10) to the decisive northern campaign. The preceding verses, Joshua 11:1-5, meticulously describe the unprecedented scale of the northern confederacy, led by Jabin, king of Hazor, and comprising numerous kings and their vast armies, notably equipped with "many horses and chariots, very many" ([Joshua 11:4](/joshua/11-4 "Joshua 11:4 - Northern Coalition's Military Might")). This formidable military display sets the stage for God's direct intervention and specific instructions to Joshua in verse 6, which immediately precedes the climactic battle at the Waters of Merom (Joshua 11:7-9). The subsequent verses detail Israel's crushing victory, the complete destruction of Hazor as the "head of all those kingdoms" ([Joshua 11:10](/joshua/11-10 "Joshua 11:10 - Hazor, Head of the Kingdoms")), and Israel's adherence to God's directives regarding plunder, thus demonstrating the direct fulfillment of the divine promise and command.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** During the Late Bronze Age, the period of the Israelite conquest, chariots represented the apex of military technology, serving as powerful, mobile platforms for archers and spearmen, akin to modern armored vehicles. Major regional powers such as Egypt, the Hittites, and the Canaanite city-states heavily relied on chariotry for military dominance, particularly in open terrain. Hazor, identified as the preeminent city in northern Canaan ([Joshua 11:10](/joshua/11-10 "Joshua 11:10 - Hazor's Prominence")), was a massive, fortified urban center controlling vital trade routes, and thus possessed a formidable military. For Israel, a people primarily composed of infantry with no cavalry or chariot tradition, confronting such a technologically superior force would have been profoundly intimidating. The divine command to "hough their horses, and burn their chariots" was not merely an act of military destruction but a counter-cultural and economically counter-intuitive directive. It prevented Israel from assimilating these powerful assets, thereby reinforcing their unique mode of warfare, which prioritized absolute reliance on God over conventional military accumulation or human strategic advantage.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully articulates several foundational themes central to the book of Joshua and the broader biblical narrative. Firstly, it reiterates the theme of **Divine Assurance and Presence**, echoing God's consistent encouragement to Joshua to "be strong and courageous" and "be not afraid" (e.g., [Joshua 1:9](/joshua/1-9 "Joshua 1:9 - God's Command to Joshua to Be Strong")). This repeated divine reassurance underscores that Israel's success is entirely predicated on God's active presence and unwavering promise, rather than their own inherent strength or military prowess. Secondly, the verse highlights **God's Sovereignty in Battle**, with the LORD explicitly declaring, "I will deliver them up all slain before Israel." This emphasizes that victory is a divine act, a gift from God, not an achievement wrought by human might or strategic genius, a principle consistently affirmed throughout Scripture (cf. [Psalm 20:7](/psalm/20-7 "Psalm 20:7 - Trusting in the Lord, Not Chariots")). Finally, the command to destroy the horses and chariots introduces the profound theme of **Radical Obedience and Trust**. This seemingly illogical directive prevented Israel from acquiring the very military assets that could tempt them to trust in their own power rather than in the LORD, thereby reinforcing their absolute dependence on God for future victories. This theme resonates deeply with the broader biblical message that "it is not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts" ([Zechariah 4:6](/zechariah/4-6 "Zechariah 4:6 - Not by Might, Nor by Power")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Be not afraid (Hebrew, _yârêʼ'_):** This imperative, derived from H3372, carries the meaning "do not fear," "do not dread," or "do not be terrified." It is a foundational command frequently given by God to His chosen leaders throughout the Bible, often coupled with a promise of divine presence or assistance. In this specific context, it directly counters the natural human response to an overwhelming military threat, calling Joshua to place his trust in God's omnipotence and unwavering promise rather than succumbing to intimidation by the enemy's superior forces. It is a call to courageous faith in the face of daunting circumstances.
* **deliver them up (Hebrew, _nâthan'_):** The verb "deliver" (H5414) here signifies God's active, decisive agency in granting victory. It is not merely a passive allowance or a general blessing, but an emphatic declaration of direct divine action: "I will deliver them up." This choice of word highlights God's absolute sovereign control over the outcome of battles and His unfailing faithfulness to His covenant promises to Israel. The victory is unequivocally a gift from God, a direct result of His intervention, rather than an achievement of Israelite military prowess or strategic acumen.
* **hough (Hebrew, _ʻâqar'_):** This verb (H6131) literally means "to uproot," "to pluck up," or, in the context of animals, "to hamstring." It refers to the severe act of severing the tendons in the hind legs of horses, rendering them permanently lame and utterly unfit for use, especially in warfare. This was a deliberate and irreversible act of incapacitation, ensuring that the enemy's primary military advantage—their cavalry and chariot forces—could not be repurposed, reused, or even salvaged by Israel. It powerfully symbolizes a complete and irreversible neutralization of worldly power and a rejection of its utility for God's purposes.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the LORD said unto Joshua, Be not afraid because of them:"** This opening clause immediately establishes the divine origin and authoritative nature of the message, underscoring Joshua's direct and intimate relationship with God. The command "Be not afraid" directly addresses the very real and understandable apprehension Joshua and the Israelites would feel when confronting such a numerically and technologically superior coalition. It serves as a profound reassurance, grounding their courage not in their own strength or numbers, but solely in the divine presence and unfailing promise. This echoes earlier divine assurances to Joshua, reinforcing a core theological principle of the book: God's people are called to fight from a position of divine strength and confidence, not human weakness or fear.
* **"for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel:"** This segment provides the immediate and compelling reason for Joshua's command to "Be not afraid": God's explicit, precise, and time-bound promise of a decisive victory. The phrase "to morrow about this time" indicates a swift, imminent, and utterly conclusive divine intervention. Crucially, the LORD emphatically declares "I will deliver them up," underscoring His active and primary role as the agent of Israel's triumph. The outcome of the battle is presented as entirely contingent on God's sovereign will and power to bring about a complete and utter defeat of their enemies, laying them "all slain before Israel." This pre-announcement of victory serves to bolster faith and eliminate any doubt regarding the battle's outcome.
* **"thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire."** This final clause provides specific, radical, and counter-intuitive instructions for the aftermath of the battle. The command to "hough their horses" (hamstring them) and "burn their chariots" means the complete and irreversible destruction of the enemy's most valuable and technologically advanced military assets. This directive is profoundly significant: it explicitly prevents Israel from integrating these powerful weapons into their own military arsenal, thereby ensuring their continued and absolute reliance on God for future victories rather than on conventional military might. It is a tangible act of radical obedience that demonstrates Israel's trust in God's unconventional methods and their complete rejection of worldly means of power and self-sufficiency.

#### Literary Devices
Joshua 11:6 employs several potent literary devices that amplify its theological message. The most prominent is **Divine Command**, delivered directly from the LORD to Joshua, establishing the absolute authority, certainty, and non-negotiable nature of the message. This command is immediately paired with **Divine Assurance**, explicitly stating "Be not afraid," which serves to bolster Joshua's faith and leadership in the face of overwhelming odds and potential human fear. The subsequent phrase, "I will deliver them up," functions as a clear **Divine Promise**, guaranteeing victory and emphasizing God's active, primary role as the sole agent of Israel's success, thereby minimizing human agency in the outcome and ensuring all glory redounds to Him. The specific instructions to "hough their horses, and burn their chariots" serve as powerful **Symbolism**. Horses and chariots represent the pinnacle of worldly military might, human strength, and self-reliance. Their mandated destruction symbolizes Israel's absolute dependence on God's power rather than conventional warfare, and their rejection of the very tools that could lead them to trust in human strength or accumulate worldly power. This act also functions as **Foreshadowing** of a recurring biblical principle where God often chooses to work through weakness, unconventional means, or seemingly illogical directives to display His glory, ensuring that the victory is undeniably His and that His people learn to walk by faith, not by sight or worldly might.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Joshua 11:6 profoundly illustrates God's active, sovereign involvement in the affairs of His people and His unwavering commitment to fulfilling His covenant promises. The command to utterly destroy the enemy's most potent military assets, rather than integrating them into Israel's own forces, serves as a powerful theological statement about the nature of God's kingdom and the means by which it advances. It teaches a fundamental truth: true power, security, and lasting victory for God's people do not reside in human strength, military technology, strategic brilliance, or worldly resources, but solely in unwavering trust and absolute obedience to the LORD. This principle ensures that all glory for victory redounds to God alone, preventing Israel from developing a sense of self-sufficiency or pride that could lead to spiritual apostasy and a departure from their unique identity as God's chosen people. It is a foundational lesson in divine providence, the call to radical dependence on the Creator, and the rejection of reliance on the created.

* [Deuteronomy 17:16](/deuteronomy/17-16 "Deuteronomy 17:16 - King not to acquire many horses")
* [Psalm 33:16-17](/psalm/33-16-17 "Psalm 33:16-17 - No king is saved by the size of his army")
* [Isaiah 31:1](/isaiah/31-1 "Isaiah 31:1 - Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Joshua 11:6 offers profound and enduring lessons for believers navigating the complexities and challenges of life today. Just as Joshua faced an overwhelming military coalition, we frequently encounter "giants" in our own lives—whether they manifest as daunting personal struggles, seemingly insurmountable professional obstacles, intense spiritual battles against temptation, or systemic injustices that appear too vast to overcome. In these moments, God's timeless message to Joshua echoes with powerful relevance: "Be not afraid." Our confidence should never be placed in our own limited resources, our strategic brilliance, or the conventional "chariots and horses" of our age (e.g., accumulated wealth, influential connections, human wisdom, or self-reliance), but entirely and exclusively in God's unfailing promises and His omnipotent ability to deliver. The radical command to "hough their horses, and burn their chariots" challenges us to prayerfully identify and courageously dismantle those things in our lives that we might be tempted to rely on instead of God. This could mean letting go of control, surrendering our self-sufficiency, forsaking worldly advantages that, while seemingly beneficial, ultimately hinder our complete dependence on Christ, or even relinquishing comfortable idols of security. True victory, spiritual flourishing, and genuine peace come not from accumulating worldly power or striving in our own strength, but from radical obedience and unwavering trust in the LORD, knowing that His ways are always higher and His strength is made perfect in our weakness.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "chariots and horses" (i.e., worldly sources of security, power, or self-reliance) might I be tempted to rely on more than God in my current challenges or aspirations?**
* **In what specific areas of my life do I most need to hear God's command, "Be not afraid," and truly trust in His promised deliverance and provision?**
* **How can I practically "hough" and "burn" those things that hinder my complete dependence on God, even if doing so seems counter-intuitive, costly, or requires a significant surrender?**

### FAQ
**Why did God command Joshua to destroy the horses and chariots instead of using them for Israel's own military?**

Answer: God commanded the complete destruction of the horses and chariots for several crucial theological and practical reasons, all designed to reinforce Israel's unique identity and mission. The primary reason was to prevent Israel from placing their trust in conventional military might rather than in the LORD. Chariots and horses represented the pinnacle of military technology in that era, and acquiring them could have led Israel to believe their future victories depended on their own strength, advanced armaments, or strategic prowess, rather than on God's divine intervention and covenant faithfulness. This command powerfully reinforced the principle that "it is not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts" ([Zechariah 4:6](/zechariah/4-6 "Zechariah 4:6 - Not by Might, Nor by Power")). Furthermore, it ensured that Israel remained distinct from the surrounding nations, whose warfare relied heavily on such assets. By destroying them, God was teaching Israel a fundamental lesson in radical obedience and absolute dependence, ensuring that His glory alone would be magnified in their conquests and that they would not be tempted to adopt the ways of the world. This also aligns with the later Mosaic law that kings should not acquire many horses ([Deuteronomy 17:16](/deuteronomy/17-16 "Deuteronomy 17:16 - King not to acquire many horses")), demonstrating a consistent divine principle for His chosen people.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Joshua 11:6 finds its ultimate and profound fulfillment in the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ, who triumphed over spiritual enemies not by conventional power or worldly might, but through radical obedience, self-sacrifice, and divine authority. The commanded destruction of the enemy's "horses and chariots" in Joshua foreshadows Christ's decisive victory over the powers of sin, death, and the devil, achieved not through military conquest or human strength, but through His seemingly humble crucifixion and glorious resurrection. Just as God sovereignly delivered the Canaanites into Israel's hands, Christ "disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him" ([Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Spiritual Powers")). The "Be not afraid" command to Joshua finds its perfect echo in Christ's constant reassurances to His disciples, "Take courage; I have overcome the world" ([John 16:33](/john/16-33 "John 16:33 - Jesus Overcomes the World")), and His promise that He would never leave them nor forsake them. The spiritual warfare believers engage in today is not "against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places" ([Ephesians 6:12](/ephesians/6-12 "Ephesians 6:12 - The Spiritual Battle")). Our victory, like Israel's, comes not from our own strength or worldly armaments, but from the power of God manifested in Christ's finished work on the cross. Ultimately, the image of God's decisive victory over His enemies, culminating in the destruction of their means of power, points forward to the Lamb of God who rides forth to conquer, not on a warhorse of human design, but on a white horse, representing divine purity, righteousness, and ultimate judgment, to establish a kingdom that is not of this world ([Revelation 19:11-16](/revelation/19-11-16 "Revelation 19:11-16 - Christ the Victorious Rider")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Joshua 10:8

And the LORD said unto Joshua, Fear them not: for I have delivered them into thine hand; there shall not a man of them stand before thee.

2 Samuel 8:4

And David took from him a thousand [chariots], and seven hundred horsemen, and twenty thousand footmen: and David houghed all the chariot [horses], but reserved of them [for] an hundred chariots.

Judges 20:28

And Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, stood before it in those days,) saying, Shall I yet again go out to battle against the children of Benjamin my brother, or shall I cease? And the LORD said, Go up; for to morrow I will deliver them into thine hand.

Joshua 11:9

And Joshua did unto them as the LORD bade him: he houghed their horses, and burnt their chariots with fire.

1 Samuel 11:9

And they said unto the messengers that came, Thus shall ye say unto the men of Jabeshgilead, To morrow, by [that time] the sun be hot, ye shall have help. And the messengers came and shewed [it] to the men of Jabesh; and they were glad.

Hosea 14:3

Asshur shall not save us; we will not ride upon horses: neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, [Ye are] our gods: for in thee the fatherless findeth mercy.

Deuteronomy 7:16

And thou shalt consume all the people which the LORD thy God shall deliver thee; thine eye shall have no pity upon them: neither shalt thou serve their gods; for that [will be] a snare unto thee.