The term "hough" refers to the practice of hamstringing, which is the act of cutting the tendons of the hind legs of animals, rendering them lame. This practice is mentioned in the context of warfare and subjugation in the Old Testament. The act of houghing was often employed to incapacitate horses, thereby diminishing the military capabilities of an enemy.

Biblical References:

1. Joshua 11:6, 9 : In the conquest narratives of the Book of Joshua, God commands Joshua to hough the horses of the Canaanite kings. "The LORD said to Joshua, 'Do not be afraid of them, for by this time tomorrow I will hand all of them slain over to Israel. You are to hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire.'" (Joshua 11:6). Joshua obeys this command as part of his military strategy, demonstrating his adherence to divine instruction: "Joshua did to them as the LORD had told him; he hamstrung their horses and burned their chariots with fire." (Joshua 11:9).

2. 2 Samuel 8:4 : The practice is also noted in the account of King David's military campaigns. "David captured from him a thousand chariots, seven thousand charioteers, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. And he hamstrung all the horses, but he spared enough of them for a hundred chariots." This passage highlights David's strategic decision to limit the enemy's future military capabilities while retaining a portion for his own use.

Theological and Historical Context:

The act of houghing horses in biblical times was a strategic military decision. Horses and chariots were considered powerful assets in ancient warfare, and by hamstringing the horses, the Israelites effectively neutralized the threat posed by enemy cavalry and chariots. This practice underscores the reliance on divine guidance over military might, as seen in the narratives of Joshua and David. The Israelites were often reminded that their victories were not due to superior military technology or numbers, but rather due to their obedience to God's commands and His intervention on their behalf.

Moral and Ethical Considerations:

From a moral and ethical standpoint, the practice of houghing raises questions about the treatment of animals and the conduct of warfare. In the biblical context, the act is portrayed as a necessary measure to ensure the security and success of the Israelite people. It reflects the harsh realities of ancient warfare, where the complete subjugation of an enemy was often necessary to prevent future threats. The biblical narrative does not dwell on the ethical implications of the act itself but rather focuses on the broader theme of divine sovereignty and the fulfillment of God's promises to His people.

Symbolic Interpretation:

In a symbolic sense, the act of houghing can be seen as a metaphor for the disabling of one's reliance on worldly power and strength. Just as the Israelites were instructed to trust in God rather than in horses and chariots, believers are called to place their trust in divine providence rather than in human means. This theme is echoed throughout Scripture, emphasizing faith and dependence on God as the ultimate source of victory and security.Hough

(Pronounced hock,) to hamstring, or cut the cords of the hind legs. The horse taken by David from the Syrians were thus disabled, Joshua 11:6,9; 2 Samuel 8:4.

To hamstring, i.e., sever the "tendon of Achilles" of the hinder legs of captured horses (Joshua 11:6; 2 Samuel 8:4; 1 Chronicles 18:4), so as to render them useless. 1. (n.) The joint in the hind limb of quadrupeds between the leg and shank, or tibia and tarsus, and corresponding to the ankle in man.

2. (n.) A piece cut by butchers, esp. in pork, from either the front or hind leg, just above the foot.

3. (n.) The popliteal space; the ham.

4. (n.) Same as Hock, a joint.

5. (v. t.) Same as Hock, to hamstring.

6. (n.) An adz; a hoe.

7. (v. t.) To cut with a hoe.

HOUGH

hok.

See HOCK.

6131. aqar -- to pluck or root up
... A primitive root; to pluck up (especially by the roots); specifically, to hamstring;
figuratively, to exterminate -- dig down, hough, pluck up, root up. ...
/hebrew/6131.htm - 6k

Messiah the Son of God
... T hough every part of a revelation from God must of course be equally true, there
may be a considerable difference even among truths proposed by the same ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 2/sermon xxvii messiah the son.htm

Accusers Challenged
... T hough the collating of manuscripts and various readings has undoubtedly been of
use in rectifying some mistakes which, through the inadvertency of ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 2/sermon xlvi accusers challenged.htm

Messiah's Easy Yoke
... T hough the influence of education and example, may dispose us to acknowledge the
Gospel to be a revelation from God; it can only be rightly understood, or ...
//christianbookshelf.org/newton/messiah vol 1/sermon xv messiahs easy yoke.htm

Ela
... Ela. Ela, David Hough, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was
born in Canaan, Me., in 1831. He was converted in childhood ...
//christianbookshelf.org/nutter/hymn writers of the church/ela.htm

Of the Church
... Dwight, Timothy, [214]DwightT-p0.1. Edmeston, James, [215]Edmeston-p0.1. Ela, David
Hough, [216]ElaDH-p0.1. Ellerton, John, [217]Ellerton-p0.1. ...
/.../nutter/hymn writers of the church/hymn writers of the church.htm

Subject Index
... Dwight, Timothy, [214]DwightT-p0.1. Edmeston, James, [215]Edmeston-p0.1. Ela, David
Hough, [216]ElaDH-p0.1. Ellerton, John, [217]Ellerton-p0.1. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/nutter/hymn writers of the church/subject index.htm

The Transplanting of Congregationalism
... Gospel there." Among them were, probably, Thomas Dudley (who mentions the discussion
in a letter to the Countess of Lincoln), Atherton Hough, Thomas Leverett ...
/.../chapter ii the transplanting of.htm

Calcutta and the Mission Centres from Delhi to Amboyna
... He and Hough, a printer who joined him, formed themselves into a brotherhood on
the same self-denying principles as that of Serampore, whom they besought to ...
/.../smith/the life of william carey/chapter vii calcutta and the.htm

Church Fabrics and Services.
The English Church in the Eighteenth Century. <. ...
/.../the english church in the eighteenth century/chapter x church fabrics and.htm

Hock (1 Occurrence)
... 2. (n.) Alt. of Hough. 3. (vt) To disable by cutting the tendons of the hock;
to hamstring; to hough. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. HOCK. ...
/h/hock.htm - 7k

Hough (1 Occurrence)
... 6. (n.) An adz; a hoe. 7. (vt) To cut with a hoe. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.
HOUGH. hok. See HOCK. Multi-Version Concordance Hough (1 Occurrence). ...
/h/hough.htm - 7k

Hamstring (2 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To lame or disable by cutting the tendons of the ham or knee; to hough;
hence, to cripple; to incapacitate; to disable. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/h/hamstring.htm - 7k

Wounded (114 Occurrences)
... Joshua, 'Be not afraid of their presence, for to-morrow about this time I am giving
all of them wounded before Israel; their horses thou dost hough, and their ...
/w/wounded.htm - 37k

Thessalonians (6 Occurrences)
... Rollin Hough Walker. THESSALONIANS, THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE. ... Seeunder
1 Thessalonians. Rollin Hough Walker. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/t/thessalonians.htm - 46k

Hottest (1 Occurrence)

/h/hottest.htm - 6k

Houghed (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Hough. Multi-Version Concordance
Houghed (4 Occurrences). Genesis 49:6 My soul, come not ...
/h/houghed.htm - 7k

Paul (207 Occurrences)
... Rollin Hough Walker. THESSALONIANS, THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE. ... Seeunder 1
Thessalonians. Rollin Hough Walker. VOYAGE AND SHIPWRECK OF PAUL. ...
/p/paul.htm - 101k

Consist (7 Occurrences)
... Rollin Hough Walker. THESSALONIANS, THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PAUL TO THE. ... Seeunder 1
Thessalonians. Rollin Hough Walker. TITUS, EPISTLE TO. See PASTORAL EPISTLES. ...
/c/consist.htm - 80k

Jehovah (20094 Occurrences)
... Professor Delitzsch well said of that passage, "Every word is as it were written
under the cross at Golgotha." Lynn Harold Hough. JEHOVAH. je-ho'-va, je-ho'-va. ...
/j/jehovah.htm - 38k

Hough: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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