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Joshua 10

Joshua 10:12

The Day the Sun Stood Still · Joshua 10:1–15
Read Joshua 10

Translations

Modern
On the day that the LORD gave the Amorites over to the Israelites, Joshua spoke to the LORD in the presence of Israel: “O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.”
Traditional
Then spake Joshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.
Literal
Then Joshua spoke to YHWH in the day when YHWH delivered up the Amorite before the face of the sons of Israel, and he said in the eyes of Israel, “O Sun over Gibeon stand still, and O Moon in the Valley of Aijalon.”
Latin
Tunc locutus est Josue Domino, in die qua tradidit Amorrhæum in conspectu filiorum Israël, dixitque coram eis: Sol, contra Gabaon ne movearis, et luna contra vallem Ajalon.

Original

Hebrew
English
On the day that the LORD gave the Amorites over to the Israelites, Joshua spoke to the LORD in the presence of Israel: “O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.”

Notes

Joshua 10:12

  • Joshua prayed for the day to extend so the Israelites could complete their task. This prevented the Amorites from organizing a new defense against Israel.

  • The sun and moon, considered powerful gods in Canaan, were powerless against the LORD.

  • Aijalon was a city near the western end of the Beth-horon road.

Joshua 10:10–13

Three miracles showed that God alone destroyed the Canaanites. These miracles were:

  • supernatural panic,

  • a severe hailstorm, and

  • a day that lasted longer than normal.

Joshua 10:1–43

Gibeon and its neighboring cities were on a plateau (high flat place) north of Jerusalem (see study note on 7:2). With Gibeon now as an ally with Israel, Israel controlled the plateau and the central hill country near Gibeon. Historically, controlling the plateau often meant controlling the hill country. The kings of Canaan had to conquer Gibeon, or they would fail.

Joshua 7:1–12:24

This second major section of the book records Joshua's southern and northern campaigns against two coalitions of kings from Canaan. Joshua's victories allowed Israel to settle the hill country from Galilee in the north to the Negev in the south.

Theme notes and profiles

Joshua Fearing People God as Holy Warrior

Events

People

Amorites: Canaanite people group, enemies of Israel Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes Joshua: Moses' assistant who led Israel into Canaan

Places

Aijalon: A Levitical city in Dan, site of Joshua's miracle Gibeon: Hivite city that tricked Joshua into a peace treaty

Glossary

Adoni-Zedek Aijalon Ajalon Amorites Astronomy Azekah Beth-Horon Book of Jashar Conquest and Allotment of the Land Gibeon, Gibeonites Gilgal Holy War Holy War Japhia (Person) Joshua (Person) Joshua, Book of Judges, Book of Makkedah Travel Tribe of Dan

Topics

Adoni-Zedek: A King of Jerusalem Ajalon: A Valley Amorites: Kings of Armies: March in Ranks: Sun Stands Still Astronomy: Sidereal Phenomena Debir: King of Eglon Gibeon: The Sun Stands Still Over, During Joshua's Battle with the Five Confederated Kings Hebron: Hoham, King of, Confederated with Other Kings of the Canaanites Against Joshua Jerusalem: The King of, Defeated and Slain by Joshua Meteorology and Celestial Phenomena: Phenomena of Sun Stood Still Miracles Wrought Through Servants of God: Joshua: The Sun and Moon Stayed Miracles: Catalogue of The Sun and the Moon Stand Still Moon: Stands Still Sun: Stood Still The Amorites: Miraculous Overthrow of The Moon: Miracles Connected With: Standing Still in Ajalon The Sun: Miracles Connected With: Standing Still for a Whole Day in the Valley of Ajalon Valleys: Ajalon Valleys: Miracles Connected With: The Moon Made to Stand Still Over Ajalon War of Extermination