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

JOSHUA 11:9KJV
Know the Bible

Joshua 11:9 (KJV)

What does Joshua 11:9 mean?

Joshua 11:9 describes how Joshua obeyed God's command by disabling the enemy's horses and burning their chariots after a battle. This action prevented Israel from using the captured horses and chariots for themselves, following exactly what God had instructed.

In this verse, Joshua, the leader of Israel, is carrying out instructions given by the LORD after defeating a coalition of Canaanite kings. Instead of keeping the horses and chariots as spoils of war, Joshua "houghed" (hamstrung) the horses, making them unfit for battle, and set the chariots on fire. This shows Joshua's strict obedience to God's specific directions, even when it meant giving up valuable military resources.

The Hebrew behind Joshua 11:9

  • "houghed" — עִקַּר (ʿiqqar): This word means to hamstring or cripple, specifically referring to cutting the leg tendons of the horses so they could not be used in war. This detail highlights a deliberate act to prevent reliance on cavalry, which was a powerful military advantage at the time.
  • "burnt" — שָׂרַף (saraph): This word means to burn or destroy by fire. Burning the chariots ensured that Israel would not adopt the military technology or tactics of the Canaanites, keeping their dependence on God rather than on advanced weaponry.

Why Joshua 11:9 matters

  • Joshua 11:9 clarifies that Israel's victories were not to be built on adopting the military strengths of their enemies, but on trusting God's guidance and provision.
  • The verse emphasizes Joshua's complete obedience, showing that he did not keep anything God had forbidden, even when it might have seemed useful or tempting.
  • This action connects to a wider biblical theme where Israel is repeatedly warned not to rely on horses and chariots (symbols of military might), but rather to trust in the LORD for their security and success.

Where else these words appear

“houghed” Hebrew H6131 · used in 7 verses

  • Genesis 49:6 O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall.
  • 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.
  • Ecclesiastes 3:2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;

“chariots” Hebrew H4818 · used in 41 verses

  • Genesis 41:43 And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.
  • 1 Kings 22:35 And the battle increased that day: and the king was stayed up in his chariot against the Syrians, and died at even: and the blood ran out of the wound into the midst of the chariot.
  • Song of Solomon 6:12 Or ever I was aware, my soul made me like the chariots of Amminadib.

“burnt” Hebrew H8313 · used in 107 verses

  • Genesis 11:3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.
  • Joshua 7:15 And it shall be, that he that is taken with the accursed thing shall be burnt with fire, he and all that he hath: because he hath transgressed the covenant of the LORD, and because he hath wrought folly in Israel.
  • Psalms 46:9 He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire.

“horses” Hebrew H5483 · used in 131 verses

  • Genesis 47:17 And they brought their cattle unto Joseph: and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses: and he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year.
  • 2 Kings 18:23 Now therefore, I pray thee, give pledges to my lord the king of Assyria, and I will deliver thee two thousand horses, if thou be able on thy part to set riders upon them.
  • Jeremiah 12:5 If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?