Joshua 11:6

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.”

Berean Standard Bible

Follow its threads on the canvas →

Study note

Setting — Yahweh speaks directly to Joshua while the northern kings encamp at the waters of Merom to fight Israel. This command occurs immediately before Joshua and his army execute a sudden attack.

The words — The text highlights תִּירָא (ti.Ra'), meaning "you be afraid," paired with אַל־ (al-), a negative imperative meaning "may not." This construction functions as a direct command to cease fear.

The thread — The identical divine assurance appears in Joshua 10:8, while the specific orders to hamstring horses and burn chariots are recorded as fulfilled in Joshua 11:9 and referenced in 2 Samuel 8:4.

Why it lands — The text commands the destruction of enemy military assets rather than their preservation. It requires the reader to submit tactical decisions to divine instruction and timing.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַיֹּ֨אמֶרva/i.Yo.merand/ he said יְהוָ֣הYah.wehYahweh אֶל־'el-to יְהוֹשֻׁעַ֮ye.ho.shu.a'Joshua אַל־'al-may not תִּירָ֣אti.Ra'you be afraid מִפְּנֵיהֶם֒mi./pe.nei./Hem<from>/ because of/ them כִּֽי־ki-for מָחָ֞רma.Chartomorrow כָּעֵ֣תka./'Etabout the/ time הַזֹּ֗אתha./Zot<the>/ this אָנֹכִ֞י'a.no.KhiI נֹתֵ֧ןno.Ten[am] delivering up אֶת־'et-<obj.>כֻּלָּ֛םku.La/mall of/ them חֲלָלִ֖יםcha.la.Limslain לִפְנֵ֣יli/f.Nei<to>/ before יִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElIsrael אֶת־'et-<obj.>סוּסֵיהֶ֣םsu.sei./Hemhorses/ their תְּעַקֵּ֔רte.'a.Keryou will hamstring וְאֶת־ve./'Etand/ <obj.>מַרְכְּבֹתֵיהֶ֖םmar.ke.vo.tei./Hemchariots/ their תִּשְׂרֹ֥ףtis.Rofyou will burn בָּאֵֽשׁ׃ba./'Eshwith <the>/ fire

King James Version

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.

Cross-references

Joshua 10:8 The LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, for I have delivered them into your hand. Not one of them shall stand against you.”
2 Samuel 8:4 David captured from him a thousand chariots, seven thousand charioteers, and twenty thousand foot soldiers, and he hamstrung all the horses except a hundred he kept for the chariots.
Joshua 11:9 Joshua treated them as the LORD had told him; he hamstrung their horses and burned up their chariots.
Judges 20:28 and Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, served before it.) The Israelites asked, “Should we again go out to battle against our brothers the Benjamites, or should we stop?” The LORD answered, “Fight, for tomorrow I will deliver them into your hand.”
1 Samuel 11:9 So they said to the messengers who had come, “Tell the men of Jabesh-gilead: ‘Deliverance will be yours tomorrow by the time the sun is hot.’” And when the messengers relayed this to the men of Jabesh, they rejoiced.
Joshua 3:5 Then Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.”
2 Chronicles 20:16 Tomorrow you are to march down against them. You will see them coming up the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the valley facing the Wilderness of Jeruel.
Psalms 20:7 Some trust in chariots and others in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
Psalms 27:1 Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—whom shall I dread?
Psalms 46:9 He makes wars to cease throughout the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the shields in the fire.

People named

Joshua