Joshua 10:12-13
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Joshua's command to the sun and moon wasn't just a request; it was a bold declaration spoken in the sight of Israel, meaning they were direct witnesses. This highlights how God often uses public moments to demonstrate His power, and how faith, when exercised boldly, can invite others into witnessing a divine intervention.
At that time Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, “Sun, stand still at Gibeon, and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.” And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance on their enemies. Is this not written in the Book of Jashar? The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The chapter describes a crucial moment in the Israelite conquest of Canaan. Following the clever ruse of the Gibeonites, a coalition of five Amorite kings, fearing for their own safety, united to attack Gibeon. Joshua, alerted by the Gibeonites, swiftly marched to their aid, launching a surprise attack and routing the enemy. As the battle raged and the Israelites pursued the fleeing Amorites, Joshua recognized the approaching end of the day and feared the enemy would escape in the darkness.
Imagine the chaos: an invading army, your people outnumbered, and the sun starting to set. What would you do?
Joshua's command to the sun and moon wasn't a scientific observation, but a profound act of faith. He saw the battle turning, the Amorites fleeing, but knew nightfall would allow them to escape and regroup.
A Prayer of Utmost Need
Joshua didn't just ask God to win the battle; he asked for time to finish the job. The text says he spoke to the LORD, and then spoke to the sun and moon. This shows his direct communication with God, seeking divine intervention.
Speaking to Creation
By commanding the sun and moon, Joshua was speaking out of deep conviction, likely under divine inspiration. He believed God, who created these celestial bodies, could command them. It wasn't arrogance, but a bold declaration of God's power and his reliance on it.
Was this just Joshua's incredible faith, or was God actively involved? The Bible leaves no doubt.
The miracle wasn't just about Joshua's amazing prayer; it was about God's commitment to fight for His people.
Divine Intervention in Battle
The text explicitly states, 'the LORD gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel.' This wasn't a lucky break for Israel; it was God delivering their enemies into their hands.
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More Than Just Hail
Beyond the miraculous stopping of the sun, God unleashed 'great stones from heaven' (hailstones) that did more damage than the Israelites' swords. This shows God using supernatural means to ensure victory and His people's safety.
The Ultimate Purpose
This extraordinary event served to demonstrate God's power and His dedication to Israel. It wasn't just about winning a single battle, but about establishing His people in the promised land and solidifying their faith in Him.
Did the sun really stop, or is this just ancient poetry? Let's look closer.
Joshua's words are poetic, but the effect was undeniably real. Understanding the language helps appreciate the miracle without losing its truth.
The 'Book of Jasher'
Joshua's command is cited as being from the 'Book of Jasher,' likely an ancient collection of heroic songs and poems celebrating Israel's history. Poetry often uses vivid imagery to express profound truths.
'Stand Still' vs. 'Be Silent'
Some scholars point out the Hebrew word used for the sun, 'damam,' can mean 'to be silent' or 'to be inactive,' rather than a literal 'stop.' This suggests the sun's influence on the earth's rotation might have been halted, rather than the sun itself physically moving out of its orbit.
A Day Like No Other
Regardless of the exact mechanism, the result was a day miraculously prolonged, allowing Israel to achieve complete victory. The text emphasizes that 'there was no day like it before or after.' This uniqueness points to a divine, miraculous intervention.
Understand the original words
Emori · Hebrew Proper Noun
A semi-nomadic, powerful people group inhabiting the mountainous regions of Canaan; often used representatively for the idolatrous inhabitants whom God ordered to be driven out.
shemesh · Hebrew Noun
The celestial body governing the day; in the ancient Near East, it was often worshipped as a deity, but here it is depicted as a servant under the absolute command of the Creator God.
yareach · Hebrew Noun
The celestial body governing the night; its mention alongside the sun emphasizes the cosmic scale of the miracle and the total control of God over the heavens.
naqam · Hebrew Noun
The act of administering justice or retribution against enemies; biblically, it belongs ultimately to God, though He sometimes delegates its execution to His covenant people.
Sepher HaYashar · Hebrew Proper Noun
A non-canonical ancient Hebrew collection of poems or songs that celebrated the heroic deeds and military victories of Israel's history.
This dramatic event occurred during the intense period of the Israelite conquest of Canaan. The miracle of the prolonged day at the Battle of Gibeon was a direct intervention by God, showcasing His power to His people and their enemies, and enabling the completion of a critical phase of the conquest.
c. 1406 BC
Israelites cross the Jordan River
Under Joshua's leadership, the Israelites miraculously cross the Jordan River, marking their entry into the Promised Land.
c. 1406 BC
Fall of Jericho and Ai
The Israelites conquer the fortified cities of Jericho and Ai, demonstrating God's power and Joshua's military strategy. Ai was conquered shortly after Jericho.
c. 1406 BC
Gibeonites deceive Israel
The people of Gibeon, a significant city, cleverly deceive Joshua and the Israelites into a treaty of peace, hiding their true identity as Canaanites.
c. 1406 BC
Coalition of Amorite Kings forms
Five Amorite kings, led by Adoni-zedek of Jerusalem, form an alliance to attack the Gibeonites for making peace with Israel and to drive the Israelites out.
c. 1406 BC— this verse
Battle of Gibeon
Joshua leads the Israelite army in a swift campaign against the allied kings. The Lord intervenes with a great hailstorm and miraculously prolongs the daylight so Israel can achieve a decisive victory.
c. 1406 BC
Conquest of Southern Canaan
Following the victory at Gibeon, Joshua continues his campaign, defeating the five kings and conquering numerous cities in southern Canaan over an extended period.
This Psalm parallels the events of Joshua's conquest, describing God's intervention in battle, which can be seen as a thematic echo of God fighting for Israel by prolonging the day.
Isaiah 38:7-8This passage records a similar miraculous lengthening of daylight for King Hezekiah, showing that God's power over the celestial bodies is not limited to Joshua's time and can be used for reassurance and deliverance.
Habakkuk 3:11Habakkuk's prayer includes poetic language about the sun and moon standing still, directly referencing this event in Joshua as a testament to God's mighty acts in history.
2 Kings 20:9-11This account of Hezekiah's sign mirrors Joshua's event, with God again demonstrating His authority over the sun by causing it to go backward or stand still, as a sign of His power and faithfulness.
calvinJoshua 10:1-14: "Now it came to pass, when Adonizedek king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them;"
- Now it came to pass, when Adonizedek king of Jerusalem had heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and h…
clarkeJoshua 10:12: "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."
Then spake Joshua to the Lord - Though Joshua saw that the enemies of his people were put to flight, yet he well knew that all which escaped would rally again, and that he should be obliged to meet them once more in the field of battle if permitted now to esc…
Joshua's command to the sun and moon wasn't just a request; it was a bold declaration spoken in the sight of Israel, meaning they were direct witnesses. This highlights how God often uses public moments to demonstrate His power, and how faith, when exercised boldly, can invite others into witnessing a divine intervention.
The chapter describes a crucial moment in the Israelite conquest of Canaan. Following the clever ruse of the Gibeonites, a coalition of five Amorite kings, fearing for their own safety, united to attack Gibeon. Joshua, alerted by the Gibeonites, swiftly marched to their aid, launching a surprise attack and routing the enemy. As the battle raged and the Israelites pursued the fleeing Amorites, Joshua recognized the approaching end of the day and feared the enemy would escape in the darkness.
The chapter describes a crucial moment in the Israelite conquest of Canaan. Following the clever ruse of the Gibeonites, a coalition of five Amorite kings, fearing for their own safety, united to attack Gibeon. Joshua, alerted by the Gibeonites, swiftly marched to their aid, launching a surprise attack and routing the enemy. As the battle raged and the Israelites pursued the fleeing Amorites, Joshua recognized the approaching end of the day and feared the enemy would escape in the darkness.
"At that time Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD gave the Amorites over to the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel,
“Sun, stand still at Gibeon,
and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon.” And the sun sto…" — Joshua's command to the sun and moon wasn't just a request; it was a bold declaration spoken *in the sight of Israel*, meaning they were direct witnesses. This highlights how God often uses public mo…
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Last reviewed October 2026