New International Version They came out with all their troops and a large number of horses and chariots—a huge army, as numerous as the sand on the seashore. New Living Translation All these kings came out to fight. Their combined armies formed a vast horde. And with all their horses and chariots, they covered the landscape like the sand on the seashore. English Standard Version And they came out with all their troops, a great horde, in number like the sand that is on the seashore, with very many horses and chariots. Berean Standard Bible So these kings came out with all their armies, a multitude as numerous as the sand on the seashore, along with a great number of horses and chariots. Berean Literal Bible And they went out, they and all their armies with them, a people as numerous as the sand that is on the shore of the sea in multitude, and a horse and a chariot—very many. King James Bible And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, even as the sand that is upon the sea shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many. New King James Version So they went out, they and all their armies with them, as many people as the sand that is on the seashore in multitude, with very many horses and chariots. New American Standard Bible Then they came out, they and all their armies with them, as many people as the sand that is on the seashore, with very many horses and chariots. NASB 1995 They came out, they and all their armies with them, as many people as the sand that is on the seashore, with very many horses and chariots. NASB 1977 And they came out, they and all their armies with them, as many people as the sand that is on the seashore, with very many horses and chariots. Legacy Standard Bible Then they came out, they and all their armies with them, as many people as the sand that is on the seashore, with very many horses and chariots. Amplified Bible They went out, they and all their armies with them, as many people as the sand on the seashore, with very many horses and chariots. Berean Annotated Bible So these kings came out with all their armies, a multitude as numerous as the sand on the seashore, along with a great number of horses and chariots. Christian Standard Bible They went out with all their armies—a multitude as numerous as the sand on the seashore —along with a vast number of horses and chariots. Holman Christian Standard Bible They went out with all their armies—a multitude as numerous as the sand on the seashore—along with a vast number of horses and chariots. American Standard Version And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, even as the sand that is upon the sea-shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many. English Revised Version And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, even as the sand that is upon the sea shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many. GOD'S WORD® Translation They came out with all their armies. Their troops were as numerous as the grains of sand on the seashore. They also had horses and chariots. Good News Translation They came with all their soldiers--an army with as many men as there are grains of sand on the seashore. They also had many horses and chariots. International Standard Version So they went out, they and all of their armies with them—a multitude as numerous as the sand on the seashore—accompanied by many horses and chariots. NET Bible These kings came out with their armies; they were as numerous as the sand on the seashore and had a large number of horses and chariots. New Heart English Bible They went out, they and all their armies with them, many people, even as the sand that is on the seashore in multitude, with very many horses and chariots. Webster's Bible Translation And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, many people, even as the sand that is upon the sea-shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very numerous. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleSo these kings came out with all their armies, a multitude as numerous as the sand on the seashore, along with a great number of horses and chariots. World English Bible They went out, they and all their armies with them, many people, even as the sand that is on the seashore in multitude, with very many horses and chariots. Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionand they go out, they and all their camps with them, a people numerous, as the sand which [is] on the seashore for multitude, and [with] very many horse and charioteer; Berean Literal Bible And they went out, they and all their armies with them, a people as numerous as the sand that is on the shore of the sea in multitude, and a horse and a chariot—very many. Young's Literal Translation and they go out, they and all their camps with them, a people numerous, as the sand which is on the sea-shore for multitude, and horse and charioteer very many; Smith's Literal Translation And they will come forth, they, and their camps with them, many people, as the sand upon the lip of the sea for multitude, and horse and chariot exceeding many. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd they all came out with their troops, a people exceeding numerous as the sand that is on the sea shore, their horses also and chariots a very great multitude, Catholic Public Domain Version And they all went forth with their troops, a people exceedingly numerous, like the sand that is on the shore of the sea. And their horses and chariots were an immense multitude. New American Bible They came out with all their troops, an army numerous as the sands on the seashore, and with a multitude of horses and chariots. New Revised Standard Version They came out, with all their troops, a great army, in number like the sand on the seashore, with very many horses and chariots. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd they came out with all their hosts, many people, as the sand that is upon the sea shore in multitude, with many horses and chariots. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And those went out and all their camps with them, abundant as the sand that is upon the edge of the sea, and the horses and chariots very abundant OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, even as the sand that is upon the sea-shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many. Brenton Septuagint Translation And they and their kings with them went forth, as the sand of the sea in multitude, and horses, and very many chariots. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible (Voice ▾ Musical ▾) Context Conquest of the Northern Cities…3to the Canaanites in the east and west; to the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, and Jebusites in the hill country; and to the Hivites at the foot of Hermon in the land of Mizpah. 4So these kings came out with all their armies, a multitude as numerous as the sand on the seashore, along with a great number of horses and chariots. 5All these kings joined forces and encamped at the waters of Merom to fight against Israel.… Cross References So these kings came out with all their armies, Joshua 10:5 So the five kings of the Amorites—the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon—joined forces and advanced with all their armies. They camped before Gibeon and made war against it. 1 Samuel 17:1 Now the Philistines gathered their forces for war at Socoh in Judah, and they camped between Socoh and Azekah in Ephes-dammim. 2 Chronicles 14:8 Asa had an army of 300,000 men from Judah bearing large shields and spears, and 280,000 men from Benjamin bearing small shields and drawing the bow. All these were mighty men of valor. a multitude as numerous as the sand on the seashore, 1 Samuel 13:5 Now the Philistines assembled to fight against Israel with three thousand chariots, six thousand horsemen, and troops as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Michmash, east of Beth-aven. 2 Samuel 17:11 Instead, I advise that all Israel from Dan to Beersheba—a multitude like the sand on the seashore—be gathered to you, and that you yourself lead them into battle. Judges 7:12 Now the Midianites, Amalekites, and all the other people of the east had settled in the valley like a swarm of locusts, and their camels were as countless as the sand on the seashore. along with a great number of horses and chariots. 1 Kings 20:1 Now Ben-hadad king of Aram assembled his entire army. Accompanied by thirty-two kings with their horses and chariots, he marched up, besieged Samaria, and waged war against it. 1 Kings 10:26 Solomon accumulated 1,400 chariots and 12,000 horses, which he stationed in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem. 2 Chronicles 16:8 Were not the Cushites and Libyans a vast army with many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the LORD, He delivered them into your hand. Judges 4:7 And I will draw out Sisera the commander of Jabin’s army, his chariots, and his troops to the River Kishon, and I will deliver him into your hand.’” 2 Samuel 10:6 When the Ammonites realized that they had become a stench to David, they hired twenty thousand Aramean foot soldiers from Beth-rehob and Zoba, as well as a thousand men from the king of Maacah and twelve thousand men from Tob. 2 Samuel 10:18 But the Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed seven hundred charioteers and forty thousand foot soldiers. He also struck down Shobach the commander of their army, who died there. 1 Kings 20:27 The Israelites also mobilized, gathered supplies, and marched out to meet them. The Israelites camped before them like two small flocks of goats, while the Arameans covered the countryside. 2 Kings 6:14 the king of Aram sent horses, chariots, and a great army. They went there by night and surrounded the city. Psalm 20:7 Some trust in chariots and others in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. Psalm 33:16-17 No king is saved by his vast army; no warrior is delivered by his great strength. / A horse is a vain hope for salvation; even its great strength cannot save. Treasury of Scripture And they went out, they and all their hosts with them, much people, even as the sand that is on the sea shore in multitude, with horses and chariots very many. as the sand Genesis 22:17 That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; Genesis 32:12 And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude. Judges 7:12 And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for multitude. Jump to Previous Armies Camps Charioteer Chariots Horse Horses Host Hosts Huge Large Multitude Numerous Sand Sea Seashore Sea-Shore Seaside Shore TroopsJump to Next Armies Camps Charioteer Chariots Horse Horses Host Hosts Huge Large Multitude Numerous Sand Sea Seashore Sea-Shore Seaside Shore TroopsJoshua 11 1. Diverse kings overcome at the waters of Merom10. Hazor is taken and burnt 16. All the country taken by Joshua 21. The Anakims cut off 23. The land rests from war So these kings came out with all their armies, The Canaanite rulers formed a united front against Israel as Joshua’s campaigns threatened their cities and territories. Their alliance showed the seriousness with which they viewed Israel’s advance through the land. Jos 10:5 So the five kings of the Amorites joined forces… a multitude as numerous as the sand on the seashore, The vast size of the coalition made Israel’s situation appear overwhelming. Yet their numbers could not overturn the Lord’s purpose to give the land to His people. 1Sa 13:5 Now the Philistines assembled to fight against Israel… along with a great number of horses and chariots. The army possessed the strongest military resources available in Canaan, including chariots that gave major advantages in open battle. Israel faced a force far greater in equipment and numbers, making the coming victory a demonstration of God’s power rather than Israel’s military strength. 1Ki 20:1 Ben-hadad king of Aram assembled his entire army.… Persons / Places / Events 1. Canaanite KingsThese were the leaders of various city-states in Canaan who united against Israel. Their coalition represents the opposition to God's people and His promises. 2. Joshua The leader of the Israelites, tasked with leading God's people into the Promised Land and conquering it according to God's command. 3. Israelites The people of God, chosen to inherit the land of Canaan as promised to their forefathers. 4. Canaan The Promised Land, a region that the Israelites were commanded to conquer and inhabit. 5. Horses and Chariots Symbols of military strength and power in ancient warfare, representing the formidable opposition faced by the Israelites. Teaching Points Trust in God's PromisesJust as God promised Abraham that his descendants would be numerous, He also promised the Israelites victory over their enemies. Believers today can trust in God's promises, knowing He is faithful. Facing Overwhelming Odds The Israelites faced a coalition as numerous as the sand on the seashore. In our lives, we may face overwhelming challenges, but we can be assured that God is greater than any opposition. Reliance on God, Not Human Strength The Canaanite armies relied on horses and chariots, symbols of human strength. As Christians, we are called to rely on God's power rather than our own abilities or resources. Unity in Opposition The unity of the Canaanite kings against Israel serves as a reminder that the world may unite against God's people. However, God's purposes will prevail. Spiritual Warfare The physical battles in the Old Testament often parallel spiritual battles in the New Testament. Believers are called to put on the full armor of God and stand firm against spiritual forces. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Joshua 11:4?2. How can we prepare for spiritual battles like the armies in Joshua 11:4? 3. What does the multitude of horses and chariots symbolize in our spiritual lives? 4. How does Joshua 11:4 connect to Ephesians 6:12 about spiritual warfare? 5. What strategies can we implement to trust God amidst overwhelming odds? 6. How can we apply Joshua's leadership in Joshua 11:4 to our daily challenges? 7. How does Joshua 11:4 align with archaeological evidence of ancient battles? 8. What does Joshua 11:4 reveal about God's role in warfare? 9. How should Christians interpret the large army described in Joshua 11:4? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Joshua 11? Verse 4. And they went out. Dean Stanley (Lectures, 1:259) compares this "last struggle" of the Canaanites with the conflict between the Saxons and the British chiefs "driven to the Land's End." The comparison is more picturesque than accurate. In the first place, it was by no means a "last struggle" (see ver. 21; Joshua 18:3; Joshua 19:47; Judges 4. throughout). In the next, the Britons were never driven to the Land's End, but Dorsetshire, which retained its independence for 200 years, was treated by Ina as Gezer (Joshua 16:10), was treated by the Ephraimites, while Devonshire and Cornwall came very gradually and almost peacefully under the hands of the conquerors. And thirdly, even had it been otherwise, there is a vast difference between a handful of desperate men driven to bay on a tongue of land surrounded nearly on every side by the sea, and a powerful, though defeated, nation with a vast continent in its rear. Yet there are many features common to the history of the Israelites in Canaan, and of the Teutonic tribes in Britain (see Introduction). As the sand that is upon the sea shore. This poetic phrase is common in the Hebrew writings (see Genesis 22:17; Genesis 32:12; Judges 7:12; 1 Samuel 13:5; 1 Kings 4:20, etc.). Solomon's capacious intellect is compared to the sand on the sea shore, in 1 Kings 4:29. The word translated "shore" is "lip" in the original, a word which adds to the poetry of the passage. And horses and chariots very many. Literally, many exceedingly. The Israelites appear to have held cavalry and chariots in great awe (see Exodus 14:18, and the song of triumph in Exodus 15; cf. also Joshua 17:16, 18; Judges 1:19; Judges 4:3). In later times they appear to have become more used to them. See, for instance, 1 Samuel 13:5, where the historian gives their number, large as it was, instead of regarding it as past all computation. This battle must have taken place on level ground, or the chariots would have been useless. Accordingly the historian fixes its scene on the banks of "the waters of Merom," where such ground is to be found - another instance of his historical accuracy (see Vandevelde, Journey 2:413, who places the battle on the great plain southwest of the latter). The use of chariots in battle dates from an early period. Homer's heroes are described as driven to battle in them. But perhaps the scythe chariots are here meant, which are not found on early Egyptian monuments, but which Xenophon in his Cyropaedia says were introduced By Cyrus. We find them, however, in use in Britain, in the days of Julius Caesar, and they could hardly have obtained the idea from the Persians. Potter (Antiquities, bk. 3. ch. 1.) says that they were gradually abandoned when they were found more dangerous to those who used them than to the enemy. That this kind of chariot is here meant seems pretty certain from the alarm they caused. No such alarm would have been caused by chariots simply used to convey the chieftains to the fight (see Gesenius, s.v. Xenophon, Cyr. 6:4; and 2 Macc. 13:2). All their hosts. The LXX. reads מַלְכֵיהֶמ their kings, for מַחֲנֵיהֶם. Joshua 11:4 records a real, vast coalition—fully armed, numerically staggering, technologically superior—mobilizing to crush Israel. The verse sets the stage for God to demonstrate that no earthly alliance can stand against His covenant purposes. By noting the totality of the enemy’s resources, Scripture heightens the reader’s awareness that Israel’s forthcoming victory will be solely attributable to the Lord’s power, keeping the focus on His faithfulness and glory. Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew So [these kings]הֵ֗ם (hêm) Pronoun - third person masculine plural Strong's 1992: They came out וַיֵּצְא֣וּ (way·yê·ṣə·’ū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim with עִמָּ֔ם (‘im·mām) Preposition | third person masculine plural Strong's 5973: With, equally with all וְכָל־ (wə·ḵāl) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every their armies, מַֽחֲנֵיהֶם֙ (ma·ḥă·nê·hem) Noun - common plural construct | third person masculine plural Strong's 4264: An encampment, an army a multitude עַם־ (‘am-) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock as numerous רָ֕ב (rāḇ) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 7227: Much, many, great as the sand כַּח֛וֹל (ka·ḥō·wl) Preposition-k, Article | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 2344: Sand on עַל־ (‘al-) Preposition Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against the seashore, שְׂפַת־ (śə·p̄aṯ-) Noun - feminine singular construct Strong's 8193: The lip, language, a margin along with a great number רַב־ (raḇ-) Adjective - masculine singular Strong's 7227: Much, many, great of horses וְס֥וּס (wə·sūs) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5483: A swallow, swift (type of bird) and chariots. וָרֶ֖כֶב (wā·re·ḵeḇ) Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 7393: A vehicle, a team, cavalry, a rider, the upper millstone Additonal Resources Joshua 11:4 Blue Letter BibleJoshua 11:4 Bible Gateway Joshua 11:4 Bible.com Joshua 11:4 NIV |
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