Josué 10
Leon Morris · Citado em PreceptAustin
Josué 10
Morris - That this unique event was of the Lord, inexplicable by either human might or natural phenomena, is evident from the entire account. The justification for God's miraculous intervention here was both the importance of this key battle in the entire plan of God for Israel and the world, as well as the testimonial value implicit in demonstrating to the sun-worshipping, moon-worshipping, nature-worshipping Canaanites--as well as the Israelites themselves--that the God of Israel controlled the sun and moon and forces of nature. (KJV New Defenders Study Bible) Henry Morris - stones from heaven. The surprise dawn attack by Joshua was enough to give initial victory, but then the Amorites were about to escape and perhaps regroup when the first miracle occurred. The word for "stones" is used elsewhere only of stones of rock. Then came a great fall of "hailstones"--the Hebrew word is used elsewhere only of true hail--which killed still more of the Amorite horde. This implies a unique atmospheric upheaval, probably occasioned by a swift deceleration of the earth's rotation. (KJV New Defenders Study Bible) Davis - It is too bad much of the church has lost this vision of God or Christ as the warrior who fights for his people. Too many of us regard this conception as substandard, by which we mean it does not fit our sentimental twentieth-century graven images of what God ought to be like. The imagery seems too violent. And we do the same for the Lord Jesus, with perhaps not a little help from church school materials. The popular image of Jesus is that he is not only kind and tender but also soft and prissy, as though Jesus comes to us reeking of hand cream. Such a Jesus can hardly steel the soul that is daily assaulted by the enemy. We need to learn the catechism of Psalm 24. Question: Who is the King of glory? Answer: Yahweh, strong and mighty! Yahweh—mighty in battle! (Ps. 24:8). We must catch the vision of the Faithful and True sitting on the white horse, the One who ‘judges and makes war’ in righteousness (Rev. 19:11–16). No mild God or soft Jesus can give his people hope. It is only as we know the warrior of Israel who fights for us (and sometimes without us) that we have hope of triumphing in the muck of life. (Joshua: No Falling Words) George Bush - Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 10 11. The Lord cast down great stones from heaven upon them. That is, hail-stones of an extraordinary size, and capable of doing dreadful execution in their fall from heaven. Some have indeed contended that stones, in the common acceptation of the word, or rather meteoric stones, are intended, and that such stones have actually fallen from the clouds or from a greater height is an incontestible fact, But there is no good reason to suppose that any such phenomenon is alluded to here, for it is immediately added, as if to preclude any ground of mistake, that ‘they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword.’ The Sept. in both places translates it by λιθοι χαλαζης, hailstones; Josephus calls it ‘a violent tempest of hailstones of prodigious size;’ and the author of Ecclesiasticus, ch. 46:6, thus speaks of the event: ‘With hailstones of mighty power he made the battle to fall violently upon the nations, and in the descent of Beth-horon he destroyed them that resisted.’ That God has, on other occasions, made use of hailstones to destroy both men and cattle, is clear from the instance of the plague of hail in Egypt, Ex. 9:18, and in the predictions of Ezekiel against Gog, ch. 33:22, the Most High is introduced as threatening that ‘he would plead against him with pestilence, and with blood, with an overflowing rain, and great hailstones, fire and brimstone.’ God himself, moreover, speaks to Job, ch. 38:22, 23, of treasures or magazines of snow and hail, which he has reserved for the day of battle and war. But although we have no doubt that a shower of hailstones is here intended, yet we are equally convinced that this shower, though natural in itself, was supernaturally employed on this occasion. They probably far exceeded the usual size, and it certainly indicates a miraculous interposition of Providence that they should have fallen at the very crisis when God promised to assist his people against their enemies, and that while in falling they slew multitudes of the fugitive Canaanites, they should not have harmed one of their pursuers! The following account of a similar phenomenon happening in our own times is graphically described by one of our own countrymen, who was something more than an eye-witness of its effects. The letter is dated Constantinople, Aug., 1831. ‘We had got perhaps a mile and a half on our way, when a cloud rising in the west, gave indications of an approaching rain. In a few minutes we discovered something falling from the heavens with a heavy splash, and of a whitish appearance. I could not conceive what it was, but observing some gulls near, I supposed it to be them darting for fish; but soon after discovered that they were large balls of ice falling. Immediately we heard a sound like rumbling thunder, or ten thousand carriages rolling furiously over the pavement. The whole Bosphorus was in a foam, as though heaven’s artillery had been discharged upon us and our frail machine. Our fate seemed inevitable; our umbrellas were raised to protect us; the lumps of ice stripped them into ribands. We fortunately had a bullock’s hide in the boat, under which we crawled and saved ourselves from farther injury. One man, of the three oarsmen, had his hand literally smashed; another much injured in the shoulder; Mr. H. received a severe blow in the leg; my right hand was somewhat disabled, and all more or less injured. A smaller kaick accompanied with my two servants. They were both disabled, and are now in bed with their wounds; the kaick was terribly bruised. It was the most awful and terrific scene that I ever witnessed, and God forbid that I should be ever exposed to such another. Balls of ice as large as my two fists fell into the boat, and some of them came with such violence as certainly to have broken an arm or leg had they struck us in those parts. One of them struck the blade of an oar and split it. The scene lasted, perhaps, five minutes; but it was five minutes of the most awful feeling that I ever experienced. When it passed over, we found the surrounding hills covered with masses of ice, I cannot call it hail; the trees stripped of their leaves and limbs, and everything looking desolate. We proceeded on our course, however, and arrived at our destination, drenched and awe-struck. Up to this hour, late in the afternoon, I have not recovered my composure; my nerves are so affected as scarcely to be able to hold my pen, or communicate my ideas. The scene was awful beyond all description. I have witnessed repeated earthquakes; the lightning has played, as it were, about my head; the wind roared, and the waves have at one moment thrown me to the sky, and the next have sunk me into a deep abyss. I have been in action, and seen death and destruction around me in every shape of horror; but I never before had the feeling of awe which seized upon me on this occasion, and still haunts, and I feel will ever haunt me. I returned to the beautiful village of Buyucdere. The sun was out in all its splendor, at a distance all looked smiling and charming, but a nearer approach discovered roofs covered with workmen repairing the broken tiles, desolated vineyards, and shattered windows. My porter, the boldest of my family, who had ventured an instant from the door, had been knocked down by a hailstone, and had they not dragged him in by the heels, would have been battered to death. Of a flock of geese in front of our house, six were killed, and the rest dreadfully mangled. Two boatmen were killed in the upper part of the village, and I have heard of broken bones in abundance. Many of the thick brick tiles, with which my roof is covered, are smashed to atoms, and my house was inundated by the rain that succeeded this visitation. It is impossible to convey an idea of what it was. Imagine to yourself, however, the heavens suddenly frozen over, and as suddenly broken to pieces in irregular masses, of from half a pound to a pound weight, and precipitated to the earth. My own servants weighed several pieces of three-quarters of a pound; and many were found by others of upwards of a pound. There were many which fell around the boat in which I was, that appeared to me to be as large as the swell of a large-sized water decanter. You may think this romance. I refer to the bearer of this letter, who was with me, and witnessed the scene, for the truth of every word it contains.’ Com. Porter’s Letters from Constantinople and its Environs, Vol. i. p. 44. Joshua 10:12 Then Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, "O sun, stand still at Gibeon, And O moon in the valley of Aijalon." Sun: Jos 10:13 De 4:19 17:3 Job 9:7 31:26,27 Ps 19:4 74:16 148:3 Isa 28:21 38:8 60:20 Am 8:9 Hab 3:11 stand Hab 2:20 Zec 2:13 valley of Aijalon Jos 19:42 Jdg 12:12 Joshua 10 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Joshua Commands the Sun to Stand Still Aijalon Valley, as seen from Gezer JOSHUA COMMANDS THE SUN TO STAND STILL Then - When? After the LORD attacked with hailstones. Joshua needed time to pursue and slay the enemy in daylight. If the night came, many of the enemy not killed by the hailstones would escape. Keep in mind this prayer is given in the sight of all Israel. Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the sons of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, "O sun, stand still at Gibeon, And O moon in the valley of Aijalon (see Wikipedia) - The sun standing still would give Joshua more light in which to fulfill what the LORD had promised him in Joshua 10:8 that "not one of them shall stand before you." This would allow Joshua to literally utterly destroy these 5 Amorite armies. Imagine the consternation of the pagans who worshiped the heavenly bodies and sought help from them. First they experience hail from heaven and then prolongation of light from heaven. Sadly they recognized the impotence of their so-called deities too late. Sadly, the same will happen to all who reject Christ and His gospel. The Believer's Study Bible - (vv. 12-14) It has been charged that inconceivable catastrophe would have resulted had the earth stopped rotating. Certainly if God can stop the earth, He can do so without causing such catastrophe. Alternately, it has been suggested that prolonged light resulted from (1) the slowing of the earth's rotation so that one day is missing in the earth's astronomical calendar; or (2) the temporary tilting of the earth's axis; or (3) a local refraction of light. It has also been suggested that the sun only appeared to stop because the Israelites were able to accomplish in one day what they might have expected to do in two. TSK - Joshua doubtless acted, on this occasion, by an immediate impulse upon his mind from the Spirit of God. The terms here employed to record the miracle, agree with the accustomed manner in which the the motions of the earth and sun are described in our own day. The sun apparently moves, but really is stationary; while the diurnal movement of the earth on its axis is by us unnoticed, and would not have been known except by astronomical science. The sun appeared to the Israelites over Gibeon, and the moon over the valley of Ajalon, and there they stayed in their course for "a whole day." Many vain enquiries have been made concerning the way in which this miracle was wrought, and many difficulties and objections have been urged against understanding it literally. But the fact is authenticated by the Divine testimony; and the manner in which it was accomplished lies entirely out of our province, because beyond our comprehension. Davis notes Joshua's prayer "was some prayer! Though it was spoken to Yahweh (v. 12a), it was nevertheless a man’s direct command (v. 12b) to elements under only God’s control. Yet ‘Yahweh listened to the voice of a man.’ Astounding! Isn’t it still amazing that God listens to the voice of a man or woman who comes to him? Doesn’t this view of prayer both rebuke both the flippancy and tedium with which we often approach the Great King? Ought we not catch our breath to think that the God who is seated on high (Ps. 113:5) stoops down and bends his ear to lips of dust and ashes? ‘When he calls to me, I will answer him’ (Ps. 91:15); who ever heard of a God like that? (Joshua: No Falling Words) Regarding "large petitions," I love the words of John Newton’s hymn. If you are not yet believer in Jesus listen to the words and I pray the Spirit enables you to sing them honestly Come My Soul, Thy Suit Prepare (Play Matt Foreman's beautiful version) and bring "large petitions" to the King of kings. Amen! Come, my soul, thy suit prepare: Jesus loves to answer prayer; He Himself has bid thee pray, Therefore will not say thee nay; Therefore will not say thee nay. Thou art coming to a King, Large petitions with thee bring; For His grace and power are such, None can ever ask too much; None can ever ask too much. With my burden I begin: Lord, remove this load of sin; Let Thy blood, for sinners spilt, Set my conscience free from guilt; Set my conscience free from guilt. Lord, I come to Thee for rest, Take possession of my breast; There Thy blood bought right maintain, And without a rival reign; And without a rival reign. While I am a pilgrim here, Let Thy love my spirit cheer; As my Guide, my Guard, my Friend, Lead me to my journey’s end; Lead me to my journey’s end. Show me what I have to do, Every hour my strength renew: Let me live a life of faith, Let me die Thy people’s death; Let me die Thy people’s death. Donald Campbell gives an wonderful explanation of this once in a lifetime day - But the record of this miracle has been called the most striking example of conflict between Scripture and science because, as is well known, the sun does not move around the earth causing day and night. Instead, light and darkness come because the earth rotates on its axis around the sun. Why then did Joshua address the sun rather than the earth? Simply because he was using the language of observation; he was speaking from the perspective and appearance of things on earth. People still do the same thing, even in the scientific community. Almanacs and journals record the hours of sunrise and sunset, yet no one accuses them of scientific error. The “long day” of Joshua 10, however, must be explained. What did actually happen on that strange day? The answers are numerous (an eclipse, clouds over the sun, refraction of the sun’s rays, etc.). But the best explanation seems to be the view that in answer to Joshua’s prayer God caused the rotation of the earth to slow down so that it made one full rotation in 48 hours rather than in 24. It seems apparent that this view is supported both by the poem in verses 12b–13a and the prose in verse 13b. (The Book of Jashar is a Heb. literary collection of songs written in poetic style to honor the accomplishments of Israel’s leaders; [cf. David’s “lament of the bow” in 2 Sam. 1:17–27].) God stopped the cataclysmic effects that would have naturally occurred, such as monstrous tidal waves and objects flying around. Evidence that the earth’s rotation simply slowed down is found in the closing words of Joshua 10:13: The sun … delayed going down about a full day. The sun was thus abnormally slow or tardy in getting to sunset, that is, its progression from noon to dusk was markedly lethargic, giving Joshua and his soldiers sufficient time to complete their victorious battle. An important fact that should not be overlooked is that the sun and moon were principal deities among the Canaanites. At the prayer of Israel’s leader Canaan’s gods were compelled to obey. This disturbance to their gods must have been terribly upsetting and frightening to the Canaanites. The secret of Israel’s triumph over the coalition of Canaanites is found in the words, Surely the LORD was fighting for Israel! In answer to prayer Israel experienced the dramatic intervention of God on their behalf and victory was assured. (The Bible Knowledge Commentary Old Testament or Here) New Defender's Study Notes - O sun stand still - Next came the most amazing miracle of all, the stopping of the sun “in the midst of heaven” (presumably at mid-day) along with the simultaneous stopping of the moon in its own orbit about the earth. Since the earth rotates on its axis, the sun could only be made to “stand still” relative to earth by stopping the earth’s rotation. This amazing event could hardly have been a miraculous change in atmospheric refraction of the sun’s rays (as some have suggested) nor supernatural strength imparted to the Israelites, so that it only seemed like a longer day (as others have supposed). Neither would account for either the concurrent hailstones or the halting of the moon. A gradual deceleration of the earth to a stop, then later a gradual acceleration again to its normal speed would not produce any necessary tectonic disturbances in the earth’s crust or any displacement of objects on its surface. It would, however, generate profound atmospheric disturbances, since the normal circulation of the atmosphere is tied in closely with the earth’s rotation. It might even generate volcanic activity, since the earth’s interior magma circulation may also be influenced to some degree by its rotation. Thus a stopping of the planetary rotation and simultaneous stopping of the lunar revolution is the sole explanation satisfying all the descriptors of the event. The entire phenomenon (deceleration, stones from heaven, hailstones, acceleration, etc.) occupied “about a whole day,” so this long day was about twice the length of a normal day. This was surely a unique miracle, but not beyond the capabilities of the Creator of the sun and moon and planets. He started their motions, has maintained them through the ages, and is able to change them at will. (KJV New Defenders Study Bible) George Bush - Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 10 12. Then spake Joshua to the Lord. That is, before, in the presence of, having a reference to. Chal. ‘Then declared Joshua before the Lord.’ There is nothing said of a direct address to Jehovah, though we cannot doubt that such an one was made on the occasion, but the address here mentioned was to the sun and moon. The phraseology in the original is not that which is usually employed to intimate a direct address whether in prayer or otherwise from one person to another. Instead of אל יהוה to Jehovah, it is ליהוה properly importing before Jehovah, or in reference to him. It is a similar mode of expression to that employed by Paul, 1 Cor. 14:2, ‘He that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men but unto God;’ i. e. not directly to God, but so that God understands him, God takes cognizance of what he says. 2 Cor. 5:13, ‘For whether we be beside ourselves it is to God,’ i. e. in reference to God, he is the ultimate object of it. So here Joshua’s speaking was not directly to God, but there was a unison between his spirit and the spirit of God in his speaking, and he had all along a believing reference to God. See on v. 14. Seeing the day far spent, Joshua feared that he might not have time to complete the victory which he had so auspiciously begun, and being suddenly prompted from above, and inspired with Divine confidence, he commanded, in the name of Jehovah, the occurrence of a stupendous miracle in order to prolong the day till the destruction of his enemies was completely effected. He said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still, &c. Or, Heb. ‘he said, In the sight of Israel, Sun, be thou silent in Gibeon.’ The verb in the original (דום dōm) generally rendered cease, rest, be still, keep silence, properly implies cessation from action or noise, rather than from motion, and is perhaps most frequently used metaphorically to signify a silent, submissive frame of spirit, a subdued, patient, expectant attitude of soul, like that of the Psalmist when he says, Ps. 62:1, using this very word, ‘Truly my soul waiteth upon (Heb. דומיה dūmmiyâh, is silent to) God.’ see also 1Sa 14:9; Ps. 4:4; 37:7; Is. 23:2. It is usually spoken of an intelligent agent, and as the import of the Heb. word for sun, is servant, or minister, it is used with great propriety here as expressive of the command of a master to a servant to pause, to rest, in his routine of service, and to assume a still, quiet, patient posture, indicative of the most entire subjection, and as if waiting for further orders. Such is the genuine force of the original, which cannot perhaps be fully expressed in any version.—The phrase ‘in Gibeon,’ means in this connexion over Gibeon, implying that Joshua looked off to a distance and saw the sun apparently standing over the city or cities of Gibeon.—As to the nature of the miracle itself, on which much has been written, it may be remarked, (1) That the scriptures generally speak in popular, and not in scientific language; that they describe the things of the natural world, not according to strict philosophic truth, but according to appearance and common apprehension. Thus they speak of the sun’s rising and setting, of the ends of the earth, of passing from one end of heaven to another, &c. Indeed, it was only in this way that Joshua could have conveyed any clear idea to the people of what he intended to express by the command. Had he uttered the words, ‘Earth, stand thou still upon thine axis;’ they would have thought him absolutely distracted. He spake therefore in the common popular style adopted by philosophers themselves in ordinary discourse, and every one can see that this was obviously the proper mode. Nor can any one object to this diction in the sacred writers without virtually entering his protest against the every-day language of all enlightened countries on the earth. Whether, therefore, the sun or the globe be supposed to have been arrested in its career on this occasion, is immaterial to the truth of the narrative, as the appearance, in each case, would be the same, and it is the appearance, and not the reality, which is described. (2) Of the precise mode in which the miracle took place, two solutions may be given, though it must necessarily ever be impossible to determine positively which of them is the true one. The effect may have been owing to the actual cessation of the earth’s motion round its axis. This, however, without an equally miraculous interference of the Almighty, would have produced the most tremendous effects, not only upon the globe itself but perhaps upon the entire solar system, and the equilibrium of the whole material universe. But the more probable explanation in our opinion is, that the phenomenon related was merely optical; that the rotatory motion of the earth was not disturbed; but that instead of this the light of the sun and moon was supernaturally prolonged by the operation of the same laws of refraction and reflection that ordinarily cause the sun to appear above the horizon when he is in reality below it. He who created the heavenly luminaries, and established the laws which regulate the transmission of light, may at this time have so influenced the medium through which the sun’s rays passed, as to render his disk still visible long after the time when in ordinary circumstances it would have disappeared. This would of course have had all the visible effect of actually bringing the earth-to a pause in its revolution round its axis, and as this answers all the demands of the text, we are not solicitous to seek any more satisfactory solution of the difficulty. Thou moon in the valley of Aijalon. That is, over the valley of Aijalon. A city of Benjamin in the near neighborhood of Gibeon, so near, in fact, that what is here termed the valley of Ajalon, seems, in Is. 28:24, in allusion to this event, to be called the valley of Gibeon. Junius and Tremellius, for the most part extremely judicious commentators, understand the import of the command to be, that the sun should stay itself from setting over Gibeon, and the moon from rising or advancing over Aijalon, because the appearance of the moon is the signal for the coming on of night, which Joshua would now have to be delayed. Certain it is, that the light of the moon, even when seen, is of very little service while the sun is above the horizon, and as we suppose the sun itself to have been at this time near the horizon, we take this command to the moon to be introduced merely as a poetic ornament to make out the parallelism so common to the poetical style of the Hebrews. It is in fact doubtful whether the whole passage be not a quotation from the book of Jasher mentioned below, and whether that book were not a collection of national songs or lyric poems composed in praise of Joshua and other distinguished heroes and champions of Israel. QUESTION - Is it true that the sun stood still? ANSWER - Joshua 10:12–14 may just relate the most amazing miracle of all time—the day the sun stood still. “On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel: ‘Sun, stand still over Gibeon, / and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.’ / So the sun stood still, / and the moon stopped, / till the nation avenged itself on its enemies. . . . The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. There has never been a day like it before or since, a day when the Lord listened to a human being. Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel!” God miraculously provided twenty-four hours of light to aid Israel in destroying their enemy, the Amorites. A variety of explanations have been given concerning this event. Some suggest a “local miracle” in which God allowed light to remain in Gibeon, much like the Hebrews had light even when the Egyptians were in the dark (Exodus 10:23). However, the text seems to indicate an actual change of the earth’s rotation, since it says the sun did not set. Others argue that the language of the passage is poetic and therefore not to be taken literally. This view causes other problems. Primarily, how is a reader to know that this event is figurative and not other events? Applying figurative interpretations to difficult biblical passages does not truly answer the difficulties. Another view attempts to explain the event as an eclipse that gave the appearance of a long day in which the sun did not set. Alternatively, some combination of an eclipse and refracted light in the atmosphere could have made the day appear longer than normal. God timed the event to miraculously coincide with Joshua’s prayer and moment of need. The main weakness of this view is that an eclipse typically lasts for minutes rather than hours. Probably the best explanation is simply to take Joshua 10 at face value—God performed a stupendous miracle, causing the sun to delay its “setting.” God stopped the motion of the earth. There are objections to this explanation, based on the physics of motion, but the God who created the world and established natural laws is perfectly capable of compensating for any collateral complications. We may not have a scientific explanation of how God performed this miracle, but He did. Interestingly, Israel’s enemies worshiped the sun and moon. The arrest of the motion of heavenly bodies and the extended period of light to help Israel clearly affirmed the Lord God as the true God. The Amorites’ own gods were powerless to aid their cause as the God of Israel moved heaven and earth to grant His people the victory. Joshua described the miracle just as we might describe it, from an earth-bound perspective. From the perspective of someone standing on the earth, it does appear that the sun moves. We ourselves commonly speak of “sunrise” and “sunset”; it is the way we express ourselves. While we may not fully understand how this “long day” occurred, a miracle does not have to be scientifically proven—just accepted. Joshua prayed, and God supernaturally provided the light necessary for Joshua’s army to win its battle. The lengthened day was indeed unlike anything ever seen, but in Joshua’s mind the greater miracle may just have been that God listened to him and answered such an amazing prayer. GotQuestions.org Henry Morris - Joshua's Long Day One of the most amazing events of history occurred when "the LORD fought for Israel" to enable them to conquer and occupy the Promised Land, even to the extent that, on one occasion, "the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day" (Joshua 10:13). Some quibble about the language employed, suggesting that Joshua thought the sun "moves," instead of the earth. The fact is, the motion of any heavenly body must be given in terms of relative motion (since all objects in the universe are moving in some way). Scientists normally assume the fixed point of zero motion to be the one which makes their equations most convenient to use, and this usually is the earth's surface at the location of the observer. Joshua's language was . . . quite scientific! Furthermore, many scholars have documented numerous traditions of a "long day" (or "long night," in the western hemisphere) about the time of Joshua. The biblical story is well supported as a real fact of history. There was a long day! Such an event required the direct intervention of the Creator Himself. He who had started the earth rotating in the first place, when He separated day and night (Genesis 1:3-5), now slowed it down again until it stopped, and the daylight continued until Joshua could rout the Amorites. God may not usually answer prayers and fulfill promises by such a mighty miracle as this, but He does answer prayer and keep His Word, and this unique event shows He is willing and able to do whatever is needed to accomplish His will. "The sun and moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of thine arrows they went. . . . Thou wentest forth for the salvation of thy people" (Habakkuk 3:11-13). Related Resources: NASA Found Joshua's Missing Day from answersingenesis.org - Excerpt - "Many Christians mistakenly claim that NASA scientists have confirmed the Bible by finding Joshua's missing day. Dr. Tommy Mitchell explains why this is another argument Christians should not use." Have NASA Computers Proved Joshua’s Long from answersingenesis.org Can / Should we interpret the Bible as literal? Joshua 10:13 So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, Until the nation avenged themselves of their enemies. Is it not written in the book of Jashar? And the sun stopped in the middle of the sky, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day. until: Nu 31:2 Jdg 5:2 16:28 Es 8:13 Lu 18:7 Rev 6:10 Jasher, Nu 21:14 2Sa 1:18 the sun: Jos 10:11,14 Ps 19:4 74:16,17 136:7-9 148:3 Isa 24:23 38:8 Joe 2:10,31 3:15 Mt 5:45 24:29 Ac 2:20 Rev 6:12 8:12 16:8,9 Rev 21:23 Joshua 10 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Related Passage: Isaiah 38:7-8 (GOD CAN REVERSE THE ROTATION OF THE EARTH!) “This shall be the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing that He has spoken: 8“Behold, I will cause the shadow on the stairway, which has gone down with the sun on the stairway of Ahaz, to go back ten steps.” So the sun’s shadow went back ten steps on the stairway on which it had gone down. THE SUN OBEYED JOSHUA! So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, Until the nation avenged themselves of their enemies. Is it not written in the book of Jashar? And the sun stopped in the middle of the sky, and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day =- NET = "The sun stood still and the moon stood motionless while the nation took vengeance on its enemies. The event is recorded in the Scroll of the Upright One (JASHAR). The book of Jashar is also mentioned in 2Sa 1:17-18. The sun stood motionless in the middle of the sky and did not set for about a full day." Jashar is the Hebrew word yashar which means straight, right, or upright. Here is the best explanation for the miracle... Jeremiah 32:17+ ‘Ah Lord GOD! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You, Jeremiah 32:27+ “Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh; is anything too difficult for Me?” (Rhetorical question of course! Answer: Nothing!) C.S. Lewis said “The mind which asks for a non-miraculous Christianity is a mind in process of relapsing from Christianity into mere ‘religion." (Miracles) God sent hailstones and He can stop the sun. The text says it and I believe regardless of whether or not I can explain it! While it has been described by some as the greatest miracle in the Bible, I submit that the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead on the third day after He was crucified and died is a far greater and far more significant miracle. Paul says Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; 17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. (1Co 15:15-17+) Henry Morris - Until the nation avenged themselves of their enemies - The Amorite horde, though decimated, could still have escaped down the mountains, particularly as the day wore on into night, but God had commanded their complete destruction. Thus the long day enabled the Israelites to finish the job. These people (whose iniquity was not yet full in Abraham's time) were now irreclaimably evil, and God miraculously aided in their elimination. (KJV New Defenders Study Bible) NET NOTE - The Scroll of the Upright One was apparently an ancient Israelite collection of songs and prayers (see also 2Sa 1:18). Henry Morris - book of Jasher. The original book of Jasher, to which Joshua could appeal for corroboration of this amazing miracle, has been lost. Although there still exists a book of the same name, purporting to be a copy of the original, this copy was probably written much later than the original. The other Biblical mention of the book of Jasher is in reference to the lament of David over the death of Saul and Jonathan (2 Samuel 1:18). Therefore, the original book of Jasher must have been compiled sometime after the time of David. The reference in Joshua was then most likely inserted by a scribe of this later period. In any case, the great miracle was clearly known and believed in these ancient times. (KJV New Defenders Study Bible) Utley makes an interesting comment - Theologically this shows YHWH’s control over the heavenly bodies (Babylonian deities). These astral gods must now help the Israelites conquer the Canaanites. Henry Morris - sun stopped. One objection to the long day account is that the writer made a scientific mistake when he said that the sun stood still. The sun does not move, it is argued, so Joshua should have told the earth to stand still. The sun does move, however, and so does every star, planet and satellite in the universe, so far as known. Scientifically, every motion must therefore actually be expressed as relative motion, using some arbitrarily assumed reference point of zero motion. The latter is normally chosen for maximum convenience and simplicity of calculations. As far as relative motion of sun and earth is concerned, the optimum method normally used is to define the point of the observer as the point of zero motion. Thus the most scientific approach (as in the Bible) is to assume that the sun moves relative to the earth. (KJV New Defenders Study Bible) Life’s evening sun is sinking low, A few more days, and I must go To meet the deeds that I have done, Where there will be no setting sun. Arthur - So here in the CONTEXT of this chapter we discover the SETTING for one of the most staggering events in time. So staggering that even astronomers acknowledge that somewhere along the way we gathered another day! Think about it; this entire incredible event has its root in COVENANT! It gives us much to think about, doesn't it, beloved? (Our Covenant God) Rod Mattoon - This brings us to a good question. Did anyone else record this miracle in their historical records? Yes! * Chinese writings record a legend of a long day. This same legend is recorded among the Inca Indians of Peru and Aztec Indians of Mexico. Both of these tribes worshiped the sun. * Babylonian and Persian documents record the legend of a day miraculously extended. * Herodotus, an ancient historian, recounts that while in Egypt, the priest showed him their temple records and he read of a day twice its natural length. * Harry Rimmer in his book Harmony of the Science of Scripture records the story of a professor of astronomy at Yale University who found the earth was somehow 24 hours out of schedule. Dr. Totter, another professor of Yale challenged him to read the Bible to find the answer. This professor said that 23 hours and 20 minutes was lost at this event in Joshua. He decided the Bible was not the Word of God because there was a 40 minute mistake. Professor Totter showed him the phrase “about the space of a whole day” (Vs. 13B). The professor continues to read Bible and found that God promised to add 15 years to King Hezekiah’s life in answer to his prayer (Isaiah 38:1–21; 2 Kings 20:1–11). God confirmed the promise by turning the sun dial back ten degrees. Ten degrees is forty minutes on the sun dial. The unbelieving astronomer bowed his head and believed in the Lord we are told. (Treasures From Joshua) Alan Carr - This passage has brought much ridicule upon the Bible. Some believe that this proves the Bible is uninspired, because science has long since proven that the earth rotates around the sun and that the sun doesn’t move. However, I would like to just make a few statements about this miracle that, for me at least, settle the issue. This is the language of observation. (Ill. We all speak of the sunrise and the sunset. We do not use technical, scientific language to describe the things we observe all around us.) Very literally, the sun hung at the zenith of the sky for about a whole day! Ancient history supports this claim. (Ill. The Chinese, the Babylonians, The Incas, the Aztecs, the Egyptians, the Assyrians, and other ancient cultures all record the existence of a long day, which occurred about this time.) The calendar supports it. Using an ancient Chaldean calendar system, which was built around lunar and solar eclipses, it is possible to count forward to this day and find that this day fell on Tuesday July 22. However, if we count backward, using our system of reckoning days, we will find that this event happened on July 22, a Wednesday. Is there a problem? No, just the fact that an entire day is missing either way you go. Verse 13 tells us where that missing day went! Some will surely counter, “But preacher, this violates all the laws of nature!” I want to remind you that there are no laws of nature! There are only the laws of God which govern nature! We need to remember Who made this world. If He can create it, then surely He can control it!) The bottom line is this, God intervened supernaturally on the behalf of Israel. God gave them all the daylight they needed to get the job done!) What does this mean for us? Well, there are times when the Lord will supernaturally intervene in your life and He will fight your battles for you. I have seen people healed of disease. I have seen drunks saved and sobered immediately by the power of God. I have seen drug addicts immediately released from the power of drugs and made clean. I have seen lives changed in miraculous ways by the supernatural intervention of God. I have seen the Lord move in response to the need of His child and move any mountain that needed to be moved to get them what they needed. That is our God! Please understand, He doesn’t always move like that. I have seen drunks delivered, but I have seen others who still struggled with that sin even after they were saved. I have seen saints healed, but I have seen others die with their disease. I am telling this morning that there are times when the Lord will move in supernatural power to meet the need of His child!) (Joshua 10:6-14 Valuable Lessons For The Day Of Battle) George Bush - Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 10 13. Written in the book of Jasher. Or, Heb. ספר הישר sëpher hayâshâr, the book of the upright; i. e., perhaps, of eminently good and upright men, men. distinguished at once for moral worth and military prowess. As this book is generally supposed to have long since perished, though affirmed by some of the Jews to be still in existence, it is impossible to determine with certainty what it was. Mention of it occurs again 2 Sam. 1:18, where David’s lamentation over Saul is said to be extracted from it. It was probably a collection of poems, or national ballads, celebrating the chief events of the wars of Israel and the praises of their most distinguished heroes. In the midst of heaven. Heb. בחצי השמים bahatzt hashshâmayim, in the division, or the half of the heavens; i. e. above the horizon, where the upper is divided from the lower hemisphere of heaven. Some have supposed it to mean the same as ‘in the meridian of heaven,’ but at that hour of the day how could the moon be visible, or how did Joshua know but he should have ample time, before sunset, to complete the victory? The other view is, therefore, we think, to be preferred. Hasted not to go down about a whole day. Heb. ‘hasted not to go down כיום תמים keyōm tâmim, as at the perfect day; i. e. as it naturally does when the day is finished, when the ordinary space of a day has elapsed. This we conceive to be the true force of the original, though aware that it requires one to be acquainted with the Hebrew in order to feel the force of the evidence in favor of such a rendering. Such an one, however, upon turning to the original of Ex. 31:18; Deut. 16:6; 24:13; Ps. 73:19, will find, if we mistake not, ample proof of the correctness of this interpretation. The meaning, as we understand it, is not that the day was miraculously lengthened out to the extent of twelve hours, or another whole day, but simply that when the ordinary duration of a day was completed, the sun still delayed his setting, but for how long a time we are not informed: long enough, however, we may presume, for fully accomplishing the object for which the miracle was granted. QUESTION - . What is the Book of Jasher and should it be in the Bible? ANSWER - Also known as the “Book of the Upright One” in the Greek Septuagint and the “Book of the Just Ones” in the Latin Vulgate, the Book of Jasher was probably a collection or compilation of ancient Hebrew songs and poems praising the heroes of Israel and their exploits in battle. The Book of Jasher is mentioned in Joshua 10:12-13 when the Lord stopped the sun in the middle of the day during the battle of Beth Horon. It is also mentioned in 2 Samuel 1:18-27 as containing the Song or Lament of the Bow, that mournful funeral song which David composed at the time of the death of Saul and Jonathan. The question is, if the Book of Jasher is mentioned in the Bible, why was it left out of the canon of Scripture? We know that God directed the authors of the Scriptures to use passages from many and various extra-biblical sources in composing His Word. The passage recorded in Joshua 10:13 is a good example. In recording this battle, Joshua included passages from the Book of Jasher not because it was his only source of what occurred; rather, he was stating, in effect, “If you don’t believe what I’m saying, then go read it in the Book of Jasher. Even that book has a record of this event.” There are other Hebrew works that are mentioned in the Bible that God directed the authors to use. Some of these include the Book of the Wars of the Lord (Numbers 21:14), the Book of Samuel the Seer, the Book of Nathan the Prophet, and the Book of Gad the Seer (1 Chronicles 29:29). Also, there are the Acts of Rehoboam and the Chronicles of the Kings of Judah (1 Kings 14:29). We also know that Solomon composed more than a thousand songs (1 Kings 4:32), yet only two are preserved in the book of Psalms (72 and 127). Writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in the New Testament, Paul included a quotation from the Cretan poet Epimenides (Titus 1:12) and quoted from the poets Epimenides and Aratus in his speech at Athens (Acts 17:28). The point is that the divine Author of the Bible used materials chosen from many different sources, fitting them into His grand design for the Scriptures. We must understand that history as recorded in the Bible did not occur in isolation. The people mentioned in the Bible interacted with other people. For example, though the Bible is clear that there is only one God, the Bible mentions a number of the gods people worshiped both within Israel and in the nations around. Similarly, as in Acts 17:28 and Titus 1:12, we sometimes find secular writers being quoted. This doesn’t mean that these quoted writers were inspired. It simply means they happened to say something that was useful in making a point. There is a book called “The Book of Jasher” today, although it is not the same book as mentioned in the Old Testament. It is an eighteenth-century forgery that alleges to be a translation of the “lost” Book of Jasher by Alcuin, an eighth-century English scholar. There is also a more recent book titled “The Book of Jashar” by science fiction and fantasy writer Benjamin Rosenbaum. This book is a complete work of fiction. Another book by this same name, called by many “Pseudo-Jasher,” while written in Hebrew, is also not the “Book of Jasher” mentioned in Scripture. It is a book of Jewish legends from the creation to the conquest of Canaan under Joshua, but scholars hold that it did not exist before A.D. 1625. In addition, there are several other theological works by Jewish rabbis and scholars called “Sefer ha Yashar,” but none of these claim to be the original Book of Jasher. In the end, we must conclude that the Book of Jasher mentioned in the Bible was lost and has not survived to modern times. All we really know about it is found in the two Scripture quotations mentioned earlier. The other books by that title are mere fictions or Jewish moral treatises. GotQuestions.org
Josué 10
Morris - no day like that. This day was unique in history. The main evidence that it really happened is the historical record--not only as recorded in the Bible and (probably) the lost book of Jasher--but in the legends and traditions of all parts of the world. Such legends of a long day are found in Greece, Egypt and other ancient nations; legends of a long night are found among the American Indians, South Sea Islanders and others in the western hemisphere. Reports that a "missing day" turned up in a space program computer analysis of ancient chronology, however, are false. This report seems to have been a modern interpretation of a late nineteenth century astronomical calculation by followers of the British-Israel belief. This calculation had been based on an arbitrary premise concerning the specific date of creation, a necessary starting point for any such attempted calculation. (KJV New Defenders Study Bible) Bob Marcaurelle - It was a mistake for Joshua to make a treaty with the people of Gibea. God will forgive us but usually leaves the painful consequences so we won’t be so prone to repeat them. But since all things work together for our good (Rom. 8:28), God can turn mistakes into blessings. Our text is a case in point. God turned this mistake into the greatest triumph in the Old Testament—the day the sun stood still because one man had faith enough to ask God to stop it. This miracle was mightier than anything Moses. Verse 14 says, “There has never been a day like it, before or since, when the Lord harkened to the voice of a man” (10:14). Moses usually would cry for help and God would choose the manner, but here Joshua saw a need and commanded the sun to stand still to give him time to defeat the armies of southern Canaan. God said, “Whoa!” and it came to a screeching stop. Joshua was a great warrior because he was a great PRAY-ER. Go behind the scenes of those who do great and good things in Christ’s name and you will find a private place of prayer where they often met with the invisible warrior who walked by their side Fought (made war)(03898) lacham means to do battle, fight, engage in combat, wage war -- against Egyptians (Ex 1:10), against Israel (Nu 21:1, 23, 25, 22:11; Josh 9:2); against Israel's enemies (Josh 10:29). Of Yahweh fighting for His people (Ex 14:14, Ex 14:25, Ex 17:9-10, Dt 1:30, Dt 3:22, Josh 10:14, Jer 21:5, Neh 4:14, 2 Chr 20:29) In doing so, Yahweh often calls into His service not only Israel, but also the elements of nature (Josh 10:11; Josh 24:7; Jdg 5:20). Nevertheless, the Israelites must also join the battle and fight with the Lord. Even though their land has been deeded to them as an inheritance, they must conquer it in battle (Ex 23:27-33). Uses of lacham in Joshua - NOTE 9x IN JOSHUA 10! - Jos. 9:2; Jos. 10:5; Jos. 10:14; Jos. 10:25; Jos. 10:29; Jos. 10:31; Jos. 10:34; Jos. 10:36; Jos. 10:38; Jos. 10:42; Jos. 11:5; Jos. 19:47; Jos. 23:3; Jos. 23:10; Jos. 24:8; Jos. 24:9; Jos. 24:11 George Bush - Notes Critical and Practical on the Book of Joshua - Chapter 10 14. That the Lord hearkened unto the voice of a man. Chal. ‘That the prayer of man should be heard before the Lord.’ That is, for such a purpose. Not that this was the first time that the prayers of a mortal had power with God, for those of Moses had often prevailed with him, but he had never before hearkened to the voice of man to alter so signally the course of nature, or to grant such an illustrious display of his power in behalf of his people. At the voice of a man, the sun that rules the day was stopped, as he descended, and the moon that governs the night, as she arose in the east. These eyes of the lower world, which were probably the gods whom the Amorites worshipped, were compelled, as it were, to stand still and look down upon their mistaken idolaters, who might cry to them for life and deliverance. The passage imports that the command of Joshua was in effect, though not in form, a prayer to Jehovah for the performance of the miracle. In like manner that which seems to have been uttered by Elijah, 1 Kings 17:1, as a prophecy, is spoken of by James, ch. 5:17, as a prayer. Probably no miracles were wrought by the ancient prophets or servants of God but in connexion with the most fervent ‘in-wrought’ prayer. It is only by earnest prayer that we take hold of the strength of God. For the Lord fought for Israel. Chal. ‘For the Lord fought by his Word.’ This seems to be added as if in answer to the natural inquiry, ‘Why was such a miracle wrought on this occasion? To what was it owing that Israel was so favored?’ Because, says the writer, the Lord fought for them. He was engaged on their side; and it was in consequence of his purpose and his promise to befriend them, v. 8, 12, that he graciously heard the prayer of Joshua. Joshua 10:14 Help from Heaven Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel! Joshua 10:14 Today's Scripture & Insight: Joshua 10:6–15 SOS, the Morse code signal, was created in 1905 because sailors needed a way to indicate extreme distress. The signal gained renown in 1910 when used by the sinking steamer Kentucky, saving all forty-six people aboard. While SOS may be a more recent invention, the urgent cry for help is as old as humanity. We hear it often in the Old Testament story of Joshua, who faced opposition from fellow Israelites (Joshua 9:18) and challenging terrain (3:15–17) for more than fourteen years as the Israelites slowly conquered and settled the land God had promised them. During this struggle “the Lord was with Joshua” (6:27). In Joshua 10, the Israelites go to the aid of the Gibeonites, allies of Israel who were being attacked by five kings. Joshua knew that he needed the Lord’s help to defeat so many powerful enemies (v. 12). God responded with a hailstorm, even stopping the sun in the middle of the sky to give Israel more time to defeat the enemy. Joshua 10:14 recounts, “Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel!” Thank You, Father, for walking with me on this difficult journey and hearing me when I cry out to You. As we cry out to God for help, we can trust that He will be with us. Joshua 10:15 Then Joshua and all Israel with him returned to the camp to Gilgal. Jos 10:6,43 Joshua 10 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries ENEMY VANQUISHED RETURN TO GILGAL Then Joshua and all Israel with him returned to the camp to Gilgal - All Israel refers to the valiant warriors not all the rest of the nation (women, children, elderly).