Keraia
Joshua 10

Joshua 10:13

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

Translations

Modern
So the sun stood still and the moon stopped until the nation took vengeance upon its enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? “So the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day.”
Traditional
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.
Literal
And the sun stood still, and the moon stood, until the nation took vengeance upon its enemies. Is it not written in the Scroll of the Upright one? “And the sun stood still in the midst of the heavens, and did not hurry to go down for about a whole day.”
Latin
Steteruntque sol et luna, donec ulcisceretur se gens de inimicis suis. Nonne scriptum est hoc in libro justorum? Stetit itaque sol in medio cæli, et non festinavit occumbere spatio unius diei.

Original

Hebrew
English
So the sun stood still and the moon stopped until the nation took vengeance upon its enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? “So the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day.”

Notes

Joshua 10:13

  • The sun stopped in the middle of the sky: Not all miracles can be fully understood. This includes their purpose, their extent, or how they happened.

  • the Book of Jashar: This was one of the ancient sources used by Israel’s historians. People in ancient Israel knew this book well. However, it did not survive as a separate document.

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

Jashar: Ancient Hebrew book mentioned in the Old Testament

Glossary

Adoni-Zedek Amorites Apocrypha Astronomy Azekah Beth-Horon Book Book of Jashar Book of the Wars of the Lord 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 Amorites: Kings of Armies: March in Ranks: Sun Stands Still Astronomy: Sidereal Phenomena Books: Not Extant, but Mentioned in Scripture: Jasher 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 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 War of Extermination