The verb here translated “stand still” is generally rendered “be silent.” However, it can also mean “be motionless,” depending upon what it is applied to. Being addressed to the sun and moon, which ordinarily have no sound, it would naturally have the meaning of the latter. The inspired writer used the popular language of the day in describing matters of science. Actually it is not the sun that moves in the heavens but the earth turning on its axis that marks off the day. But even in our modern age of scientific enlightenment we speak of the sun rising or setting. Some, whose limited concept of God leaves Him powerless to interfere with natural law, feel that a halt in the rotation of the earth would have disastrous effects upon the earth itself and possibly upon the entire solar system, if not the universe. Whether the phenomenon was produced in this fashion or by the refraction of light or in some other way, the fact remains that a miracle of some kind occurred. If we believe in an omnipotent God, who, as Creator and Sustainer, controls the works of His creation, there is no problem.

The lengthening of the day not only provided additional time for the total destruction of the enemies of Israel but was a signal demonstration of the power of Israel’s God. It showed that the very gods whom the heathen worshiped were powerless before the true God. They worshiped the Canaanite god Baal and the goddess Ashtoreth. Both the sun and the moon whom they worshipped were shown to be subservient to Joshua’s command, under the direction of Israel’s God, Jehovah.

 Some, on casual reading, have believed that the miracle took place as the sun was setting, and that the sun, therefore, was held just above the horizon. But v. 13 states that “the sun stood still in the midst of heaven.” Joshua and his men were pursuing the Canaanites beyond Beth-horon. Inasmuch as the battle started early in the morning, it would have been possible to reach this spot before noon. As Joshua stood at the summit of the pass at Beth-horon and looked down upon the vast multitudes of the enemy fleeing to the southwest toward their strongholds, he feared that the day would prove too short to bring complete victory. He knew that the opportune time to strike was while the enemy was disorganized. Delay would give time for reorganization. So as he looked back eastward toward Gibeon he saw the sun, as it were, above that point. To the west, over the Valley of Aijalon, the waning moon was still faintly visible. Had the time been near sunset, he would have seen the sun toward the west sinking in the sea instead of toward the east over Gibeon.

 As to the length of time that the sun was delayed in its course, it is generally assumed to have been a whole day. However, the Hebrew is not specific. Literally, it reads, the sun “did not hasten to go down as a perfect day,” that is, as it does when the day is finished. But the language also permits the reading “about a whole day.” This would give time for the accomplishing of the events noted through v. 28, since the wording of that verse seems to imply that Makkedah was taken on the same day.

The Syriac reads “before the Lord,” or, “in the presence of the Lord.” The Hebrew preposition le has a variety of meanings, such as “with regard to,” “on account of,” “concerning,” “because of.” These meanings convey the idea that what Joshua said was, “because of the Lord,” or, “with regard to the Lord,” that is, spoken under divine direction or at least with divine approval. Consequently, his words were not presumptuous.