Joshua 11 · a question people ask
Why hamstring the horses and burn the chariots, instead of keeping them?
The chapter doesn't give a reason. It says the LORD commanded it before the battle, "You shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire" (11:6), and that Joshua did it after: "Joshua did to them as the LORD told him. He hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots with fire" (11:9) (tap hamstring). Other verses speak of horses and chariots, though Joshua 11 doesn't cite them. Moses said the king "shall not multiply horses to himself" (Deuteronomy 17:16), and told Israel not to fear an enemy's "horses, chariots, and a people more numerous than you… for the LORD your God… is with you" (Deuteronomy 20:1). A psalm says, "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God" (Psalm 20:7). Later, "David hamstrung the chariot horses, but reserved enough of them for one hundred chariots" (2 Samuel 8:4).
The verses
“The LORD said to Joshua, “Don’t be afraid because of them; for tomorrow at this time, I will deliver them up all slain before Israel. You shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire.””
“Joshua did to them as the LORD told him. He hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots with fire.”
“Only he shall not multiply horses to himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt, to the end that he may multiply horses; because the LORD has said to you, “You shall not go back that way again.””
“When you go out to battle against your enemies, and see horses, chariots, and a people more numerous than you, you shall not be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt, is with you.”