Joshua 11:9

Joshua treated them as the LORD had told him; he hamstrung their horses and burned up their chariots.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Joshua acts immediately after the LORD delivers the Canaanite coalition into Israel’s hands and the Israelites complete their pursuit and slaughter (Joshua 11:8). The narrative follows the LORD’s prior command to Joshua not to fear the approaching armies (Joshua 11:6).

The words — The Hebrew verb עִקֵּר ('i.Ker) literally means to cut off the sinew of the hamstring, rendering the horses permanently useless for battle. Joshua executes this specific action alongside the burning of chariots, directly fulfilling the LORD's prior directive.

The thread — The deliberate destruction of enemy horses and chariots mirrors the LORD's instruction to prevent reliance on captured military might (Joshua 11:6) and anticipates the later practice of Israelites burning captured weapons for fuel (Ezekiel 39:9).

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that victory depends on strict obedience to divine command rather than the retention of captured military equipment. It requires the reader to accept that disabling enemy assets is a direct application of the LORD's prior instruction.

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The Hebrew words

וַיַּ֤עַשׂva/i.Ya.'asand/ he didלָהֶם֙la./Hemto <the>/ themיְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַye.ho.Shu.a'Joshua כַּאֲשֶׁ֥רka./'a.Sherjust/ as אָֽמַר־'a.mar-he had saidל֖וֹl/oto <the>/ himיְהוָ֑הYah.wehYahweh אֶת־'et-<obj.>סוּסֵיהֶ֣םsu.sei./Hemhorses/ their עִקֵּ֔ר'i.Kerhe hamstrung וְאֶת־ve./'Etand/ <obj.>מַרְכְּבֹתֵיהֶ֖םmar.ke.vo.tei./Hemchariots/ their שָׂרַ֥ףsa.Rafhe burned בָּאֵֽשׁ׃ סba./'Eshwith <the>/ fire

King James Version

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

Cross-references

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.”
Ezekiel 39:9 Then those who dwell in the cities of Israel will go out, kindle fires, and burn up the weapons—the bucklers and shields, the bows and arrows, the clubs and spears. For seven years they will use them for fuel.

People named

Joshua