Joshua 10:13

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

And the sun {H8121} stood still {H1826}, and the moon {H3394} stayed {H5975}, until the people {H1471} had avenged {H5358} themselves upon their enemies {H341}. Is not this {H1931} written {H3789} in the book {H5612} of Jasher {H3477}? So the sun {H8121} stood still {H5975} in the midst {H2677} of heaven {H8064}, and hasted {H213} not to go down {H935} about a whole {H8549} day {H3117}.

Complete Jewish Bible

So the sun stood still and the moon stayed put, till Isra'el took vengeance on their enemies.

Berean Standard Bible

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.”

American Standard Version

And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, Until the nation had avenged themselves of their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jashar? And the sun stayed in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Joshua 10:13 recounts one of the most extraordinary miracles in the Old Testament: the day the sun and moon stood still in the sky, extending daylight for an entire day. This phenomenal event occurred during Israel's conquest of Canaan, specifically as they pursued the confederacy of Amorite kings, serving as irrefutable evidence of God's direct, powerful, and supernatural intervention on behalf of His covenant people to secure a decisive victory. The verse also references the "book of Jasher" as an external corroborating source for this unprecedented divine act.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Joshua 10:13 is situated within the narrative of Israel's conquest of Canaan, following the miraculous crossing of the Jordan and the fall of Jericho and Ai. The immediate context begins with the deception of the Gibeonites (Joshua 9), who secure a treaty with Israel. When five Amorite kings form a confederacy to attack Gibeon for their alliance with Israel, Gibeon appeals to Joshua for help. Joshua and the Israelite army undertake an arduous all-night march to relieve Gibeon. As the battle rages, God intervenes with a devastating hailstorm (Joshua 10:11), inflicting more casualties than the sword. Recognizing the need for extended daylight to complete the rout of the enemy, Joshua boldly prays for the sun and moon to stand still (Joshua 10:12). Verse 13 records the divine answer to this audacious prayer, confirming that the celestial bodies indeed halted, allowing Israel to achieve a comprehensive and overwhelming victory, demonstrating God's active participation in their conquest.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is the late Bronze Age, a period of significant geopolitical flux in the ancient Near East. Warfare was typically conducted during daylight hours, as nightfall would bring a halt to combat, allowing enemies to escape. For Israel to achieve a complete and decisive victory against a coalition of kings, extended daylight was crucial for pursuit and annihilation, preventing future threats. The Canaanite peoples, whom Israel was dispossessing, often worshipped celestial deities, including sun and moon gods. God's direct manipulation of these celestial bodies served as a powerful theological statement, demonstrating YHWH's absolute sovereignty over all creation and His superiority over the impotent gods of the Canaanites. This miracle would have profoundly impacted both the Israelites, solidifying their faith, and the surrounding nations, instilling fear and acknowledging the power of Israel's God.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully underscores several core themes throughout the book of Joshua and the broader Old Testament. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Intervention and Omnipotence**, showcasing God's absolute control over the natural order. He is not bound by the laws of creation but can suspend or alter them to achieve His purposes, proving His sovereignty over all things, including the very elements worshipped by pagan cultures. Secondly, it demonstrates **God's Faithfulness to His Covenant Promises**. This miraculous aid ensures Israel's success in possessing the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (see [Genesis 12:7](/genesis/12-7 "Genesis 12:7 - God's Promise of Land to Abraham")). God is actively fighting for His people to fulfill His word, reinforcing the idea that His promises are sure. Thirdly, the event emphasizes **Answered Prayer and Human Faith**. Joshua's bold, Spirit-inspired prayer in [Joshua 10:12](/joshua/10-12 "Joshua 10:12 - Joshua's Prayer for the Sun to Stand Still") is met with an unprecedented divine response, encouraging believers to pray with audacious faith, trusting in God's ability to do the impossible for His glory and His people's good.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **stood still (Hebrew, _dāmam'_):** This verb, used for the sun, means "to be silent," "to cease," or "to be motionless." It conveys a complete cessation of activity, emphasizing the supernatural nature of the event—the sun literally stopped its apparent movement across the sky. It's not merely a slowing down but a complete halt, underscoring God's absolute power over creation.
* **stayed (Hebrew, _'āmad'_):** Used for the moon, this verb means "to stand," "to stand firm," or "to endure." While similar to _dāmam_, _'āmad_ often implies a state of being fixed or remaining in place. Its use alongside _dāmam_ reinforces the miraculous suspension of both celestial bodies, indicating a sustained and deliberate divine act rather than a fleeting phenomenon.
* **hasted not to go down (Hebrew, _lo' 'ātz lāvo'_):** This phrase literally translates to "did not hurry to come" or "did not hasten to set." It vividly describes the prolonged duration of the day. The sun, having stopped, did not resume its normal course of setting for an extended period, explicitly stating that the day was approximately twice its normal length, allowing for the complete and decisive routing of the Amorite kings.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed":** This opening clause describes the core miracle. It presents a direct, supernatural intervention by God, suspending the natural order of the cosmos. The sun's apparent movement across the sky and the moon's position were halted, demonstrating God's absolute sovereignty over creation and His ability to manipulate the universe to serve His redemptive purposes for His people.
* **"until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies.":** This clause reveals the divine purpose behind the miracle. The extended daylight was not merely a display of power but a strategic act to ensure Israel's complete victory. "Avenged themselves" implies a full and decisive defeat of the enemy, ensuring that none escaped and that the threat they posed was entirely neutralized, thus fulfilling God's promise to give Israel the land.
* **"[Is] not this written in the book of Jasher?":** This parenthetical question serves as an appeal to an external, well-known ancient source. The "book of Jasher" was a collection of Hebrew poetic or historical records, not part of the canonical Scriptures. Its inclusion here functions as a corroborating witness, affirming the historical veracity and widespread acceptance of this extraordinary event among the Israelites of that time. It lends credibility to the account by referencing a recognized historical record.
* **"So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day.":** This concluding statement reiterates and amplifies the miracle described at the beginning of the verse. The repetition ("sun stood still") emphasizes the certainty and magnitude of the event. The phrase "in the midst of heaven" suggests a high, fixed position, and "hasted not to go down about a whole day" explicitly states the unprecedented duration of the phenomenon, clarifying that the day was extended by approximately another full day, allowing for the complete and unhindered pursuit and destruction of the enemy.

#### Literary Devices
Joshua 10:13 is rich in literary devices that enhance its impact and convey its profound theological message. The most prominent is **Divine Intervention**, where God directly acts upon the natural world, suspending its laws to achieve His purposes. This is closely related to **Miracle**, an event that transcends natural explanation, serving as a sign of God's power and presence. The **Repetition** of "the sun stood still" (from [Joshua 10:12](/joshua/10-12 "Joshua 10:12 - Joshua's Prayer for the Sun to Stand Still") and within this verse) emphasizes the certainty and extraordinary nature of the event. The phrase "hasted not to go down about a whole day" uses **Hyperbole** or **Exaggeration** to convey the immense and unprecedented duration of the extended daylight, making a powerful statement about the scale of God's intervention. Finally, the **Allusion** to the "book of Jasher" serves as an external corroboration, adding a layer of historical authenticity to the narrative by referencing a known ancient source, even if that source is no longer extant or canonical.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Joshua 10:13 stands as a monumental testament to God's absolute sovereignty over creation and His unwavering commitment to His covenant people. This miracle transcends mere historical anecdote; it is a profound theological declaration that the God of Israel is not merely a regional deity but the Lord of the cosmos, capable of altering the very fabric of time and space to accomplish His will. It underscores that God actively fights for His people, not just through natural means but through supernatural intervention, demonstrating that no obstacle is too great for Him to overcome when His purposes are at stake. This event solidifies the understanding that God's promises are guaranteed by His omnipotence, providing both comfort and a call to audacious faith for His followers.

* [Psalm 74:16](/psalms/74-16 "Psalm 74:16 - God's Control Over Day and Night")
* [Exodus 14:14](/exodus/14-14 "Exodus 14:14 - The Lord Will Fight for You")
* [James 5:16](/james/5-16 "James 5:16 - The Prayer of a Righteous Person")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The account of the sun and moon standing still in Joshua 10:13 offers profound lessons for contemporary believers. It is a powerful reminder that the God we serve is not limited by natural laws or human understanding. Just as He intervened dramatically for Joshua, He remains sovereign over all circumstances in our lives. This passage calls us to cultivate a radical trust in God's power, even when our situations seem impossible or overwhelming. It encourages us to pray with boldness and specificity, bringing our deepest needs and most audacious requests before Him, believing that He is able to do "exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Ephesians 3:20). Furthermore, it reassures us that God is actively involved in our battles, both spiritual and practical, and that ultimately, the victory belongs to Him. Our role is to be obedient, step out in faith, and then trust Him to fight on our behalf, knowing that His timing and methods are perfect, designed to bring about His ultimate glory and our good.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "impossible" situations in your life do you need to bring before God with the same audacious faith as Joshua?**
* **How does God's control over creation in this passage encourage you to trust His sovereignty in your personal circumstances?**
* **In what ways might God be calling you to partner with Him in "fighting battles" where you need His supernatural intervention?**

### FAQ
**Was this miracle a literal event, or is it symbolic?**

Answer: The biblical text presents the event in Joshua 10:13 as a literal, historical miracle, a direct supernatural intervention by God. The language used (e.g., "stood still," "hasted not to go down about a whole day") strongly suggests a physical phenomenon where the apparent movement of the sun and moon was halted, extending daylight for an unprecedented duration. While modern scientific understanding might struggle to explain such an event within natural laws, the biblical narrative attributes it directly to divine omnipotence, emphasizing God's ability to transcend and manipulate natural processes. Attempts to explain it purely as a poetic description, a slowing of the Earth's rotation, or an astronomical alignment often fall short of the text's clear depiction of a miraculous, purposeful intervention. For the biblical authors and their audience, it was understood as a real, historical act of God.

**What is the "book of Jasher"?**

Answer: The "book of Jasher" (also mentioned in [2 Samuel 1:18](/2_samuel/1-18 "2 Samuel 1:18 - David's Lament and the Book of Jasher")) was an ancient, non-canonical Hebrew text. It is generally understood to have been a collection of national songs, poems, or historical records celebrating heroic deeds and significant events in Israel's history. It was likely a well-known and respected source in ancient Israel, cited here in Joshua 10:13 as a corroborating witness to the extraordinary miracle of the sun and moon standing still. Its mention indicates that the event was not only part of oral tradition but also recorded in other historical accounts of the time. However, it is important to note that the "book of Jasher" is not part of the inspired biblical canon, and its exact content or fate is unknown today. Its purpose in the biblical text is to provide external verification for a remarkable event, not to serve as a source of divine revelation itself.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Joshua 10:13, with its depiction of God's miraculous intervention to secure victory for His people, finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in Jesus Christ. Joshua, whose name means "Yahweh is salvation" and is the Hebrew equivalent of Jesus, serves as a type of Christ, leading God's people into the promised land and securing victory over their enemies. While Joshua's triumph was earthly and temporal, Christ's victory is cosmic and eternal. Just as God demonstrated His power over creation by commanding the sun and moon, Jesus, as the Son of God, possesses inherent authority over all creation. He calmed raging storms with a word (see [Matthew 8:26-27](/matthew/8-26 "Matthew 8:26-27 - Jesus Calms the Storm")) and walked on water, demonstrating that the very power that held the sun still resides fully in Him. Furthermore, the purpose of the extended day was to allow Israel to "avenge themselves upon their enemies." Christ, through His death and resurrection, has achieved the ultimate victory over humanity's true enemies: sin, death, and the devil (see [Colossians 2:15](/colossians/2-15 "Colossians 2:15 - Christ's Triumph Over Principalities and Powers")). He is the true Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), and through Him, we are granted not merely physical land but an eternal inheritance and spiritual victory. The "whole day" of extended light in Joshua foreshadows the eternal light and rest found in Christ, who is the light of the world ([John 8:12](/john/8-12 "John 8:12 - Jesus, the Light of the World")) and the one who leads us into our true, everlasting rest (see [Hebrews 4:8-10](/hebrews/4-8 "Hebrews 4:8-10 - Christ, Our True Rest")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Habakkuk 3:11

The sun [and] moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of thine arrows they went, [and] at the shining of thy glittering spear.

Isaiah 38:8

Behold, I will bring again the shadow of the degrees, which is gone down in the sun dial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward. So the sun returned ten degrees, by which degrees it was gone down.

Joshua 10:14

And there was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened unto the voice of a man: for the LORD fought for Israel.

Judges 16:28

And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes.

Luke 18:7

And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

Esther 8:13

The copy of the writing for a commandment to be given in every province [was] published unto all people, and that the Jews should be ready against that day to avenge themselves on their enemies.

Psalms 136:7

To him that made great lights: for his mercy [endureth] for ever: