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 ויצאו3318 הם1992 וכל3605 מחניהם4264 עמם5973 עם5971 רב7227 כחול2344 אשׁר834 על5921 שׂפת8193 הים3220 לרב7230 וסוס5483 ורכב7393 רב7227 מאד׃3966
