Joshua 10:13
And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
This miracle occurred during Israel's conquest of Canaan around 1400 BC, when five Amorite kings formed a coalition to attack Gibeon (Joshua 10:1-5). The Gibeonites had made a treaty with Israel through deception (Joshua 9), but Joshua honored the covenant and came to their defense. The battle at Gibeon became a decisive moment in the conquest of southern Canaan.
Ancient Near Eastern warfare typically ceased at nightfall due to practical limitations of fighting in darkness. The extended daylight gave Israel a supernatural advantage, allowing them to pursue and destroy the fleeing coalition forces completely (Joshua 10:10-11). God had already sent hailstones that killed more Amorites than Israelite swords (Joshua 10:11), demonstrating divine intervention before Joshua's prayer for extended daylight.
The astronomical phenomenon has been debated for centuries. Some interpreters understand it as literal cessation of earth's rotation, others as atmospheric refraction extending visible sunlight, still others as poetic description of God's intervention. Ancient extrabiblical sources from Egypt, China, and Mexico record unusual day-lengths, though dating these accounts is problematic. Regardless of mechanism, the miracle accomplished its purpose: complete victory over enemies threatening Israel's covenant mission. The event became legendary, cited in Jewish tradition as proof of God's power and responsiveness to prayer.
Questions for Reflection
- How does this miracle demonstrate the relationship between human prayer and divine sovereignty?
- What does God's willingness to alter creation's normal operations teach about His commitment to His covenant purposes?
- How should we understand and respond to biblical miracles that seem scientifically impossible?
- What principles from Joshua's bold prayer can guide our own prayers in seemingly impossible situations?
- How does this passage challenge deistic views that God created the world but does not actively intervene in it?
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Analysis & Commentary
And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. This verse records one of Scripture's most extraordinary miracles—God stopping celestial motion in response to Joshua's prayer (Joshua 10:12). The Hebrew vayyadom (וַיִּדֹּם, "stood still") means to be silent, cease, or stop completely. The parallel verb amad (עָמַד, "stayed") reinforces the cessation of normal movement.
The phrase "until the people had avenged themselves" (ad yiqom goy oyevav, עַד יִקֹּם גּוֹי אֹיְבָיו) reveals the purpose: the extended daylight allowed Israel to complete their divinely mandated conquest of the Amorite coalition. The reference to "the book of Jasher" (Hebrew Sefer HaYashar, סֵפֶר הַיָּשָׁר, "book of the upright") cites an ancient poetic collection of Israel's victories, now lost but demonstrating that this miracle was widely known and documented.
The description "hasted not to go down about a whole day" emphasizes the miracle's duration and completeness. This event demonstrates:
Whether understood as actual celestial cessation or miraculous atmospheric phenomena extending daylight, the miracle affirms God's active involvement in accomplishing His redemptive purposes.