Joshua 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.

Joshua 11:6 (KJV)

Context

Joshua 11:6 takes place during Israel’s conquest of Canaan. The northern kings, led by Jabin of Hazor, gathered a huge army with many horses and chariots, as numerous as the sand on the seashore (Joshua 11:4). They camped together at the Waters of Merom to fight Israel (Joshua 11:5). In this setting, the Lord speaks directly to Joshua with a promise and a command.

Meaning

The Lord says, “Be not afraid because of them.” This is not a general word of comfort but a specific assurance tied to a promise: “for to morrow about this time will I deliver them up all slain before Israel.” God takes the initiative in granting victory. Joshua’s part is to obey the command that follows: “thou shalt hough their horses, and burn their chariots with fire.” To “hough” means to hamstring, cutting the leg tendons so the horses cannot run. This was a deliberate act to disable the enemy’s military strength.

The command was not merely a military tactic. Horses and chariots were symbols of power in that era. By destroying them, God taught Israel that their victory did not depend on such resources but on Him alone. Joshua’s obedience is confirmed later in Joshua 11:9, where he did as the Lord commanded, hamstringing the horses and burning the chariots, without consulting his own interest or the people’s desire for valuable spoils. This obedience was crucial, for it showed that Israel trusted God’s word over their own gain.

Biblical connections

The assurance “be not afraid” is a recurring encouragement to God’s people, but here it is tied to a specific promise of imminent deliverance. The principle of not trusting in human resources but in God alone is echoed in Psalm 20:7, which contrasts trust in chariots and horses with trust in the name of the Lord. This connection shows that the lesson at Merom was not isolated but part of a broader biblical theme. God’s faithfulness to His promise to give Canaan to Israel runs throughout the book of Joshua, and this victory is another proof of that faithfulness.

Application

When we face overwhelming opposition, we may be tempted to rely on our own strength, resources, or strategies. This verse calls us to trust God’s promises and to obey His specific instructions, even when they seem costly or unusual. God’s deliverance is certain and timely—”to morrow about this time“—so we can wait with confidence. We must also be willing to remove from our lives anything that becomes a false source of security, just as Israel disabled the horses and burned the chariots. Consider what might be your own “horses and chariots“—those things you lean on instead of God.

Reflection

God’s ways often differ from human strategies. He may ask us to give up what the world values, so that our dependence on Him becomes clear. The victory at the Waters of Merom was not won by Israel’s military might but by God’s power and Joshua’s obedience. Our ultimate victory in life comes not through our own abilities but through trusting God and following His commands, even when they require sacrifice. Let us learn to say with the psalmist, “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God” (Psalm 20:7).