SEV Biblia, Chapter 11:4
Estos salieron, y con ellos todos sus ejércitos, pueblo muy grande, como la arena que está a la orilla del mar, con gran muchedumbre de caballos y carros.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Joshua 11:4
Verse 4. Much people, even as the sand] This form of speech, by some called a hyperbole, conveys simply the idea of a vast or unusual number-a number of which no regular estimate could be easily formed. Josephus, who seldom finds difficulties in such cases, and makes no scruple of often speaking without book, tells us that the allied armies amounted to 300, 000 foot 10, 000 horse, and 20, 000 chariots of war. Antiq. lib. v., c. 1. That chariots were frequently used in war, all the records of antiquity prove; but it is generally supposed that among the Canaanites they were armed with iron scythes fastened to their poles and to the naves of their wheels. Terrible things are spoken of these, and the havoc made by them when furiously driven among the ranks of infantry. Of what sort the cavalry was, we know not; but from the account here given we may see what great advantages these allies possessed over the Israelites, whose armies consisted of infantry only.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 4. And they went out , etc.] The several kings and people sent to; these went out from the places they inhabited: they and all their hosts with them ; the kings of those several places, with their armies: much people, even as the sand that [is] upon the seashore in multitude ; a proverbial expression, to denote an exceeding great number: with horses and chariots very many ; being supplied with horses from Egypt, and their chariots were chariots of iron; (see Judges 4:3); Josephus gives us the number of this great army, and says it consisted of three hundred thousand footmen, ten thousand horse, and thirty thousand chariots; some copies read only twenty thousand; and these chariots were armed with iron hooks or scythes, to cut down men as they drove along, and so were very terrible.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-9 - The wonders God wrought for the Israelites were to encourage them to act vigorously themselves. Thus the war against Satan's kingdom carried on by preaching the gospel, was at first forwarded by miracles but being fully proved to be of God, we are now left to the Divin grace in the usual course, in the use of the sword of the Spirit. God encouraged Joshua. Fresh dangers and difficulties make it necessary to seek fresh supports from the word of God, which we have nigh unto u for use in every time of need. God proportions our trials to ou strength, and our strength to our trials. Joshua's obedience in destroying the horses and chariots, shows his self-denial in complianc with God's command. The possession of things on which the carnal hear is prone to depend, is hurtful to the life of faith, and the walk with God; therefore it is better to be without worldly advantages, than to have the soul endangered by them. (Jos 11:10-14)
Original Hebrew
ויצאו 3318 הם 1992 וכל 3605 מחניהם 4264 עמם 5973 עם 5971 רב 7227 כחול 2344 אשׁר 834 על 5921 שׂפת 8193 הים 3220 לרב 7230 וסוס 5483 ורכב 7393 רב 7227 מאד׃ 3966
