STRANGEST THINGS OF THE BIBLE
THE DAY THE SUN STOOD STILL
"Adonizedek, the king of Jerusalem, heard that Joshua had captured and totally destroyed Ai and had killed its king, just as he had done to Jericho and its king. He also heard that the people of Gibeon had made peace with the Israelites and were living among them. (Joshua 10:1 GNT)
Five Amorite kings joined forces to surround
Gibeon
"The people of Jerusalem were greatly
alarmed at this because Gibeon was as large
as any of the cities that had a king; it was
larger than Ai, and its men were good
fighters. So Adonizedek sent the following
message to King Hoham of Hebron, King
Piram of Jarmuth, King Japhia of Lachish, and
to King Debir of Eglon: “Come and help me
attack Gibeon, because its people have made
peace with Joshua and the Israelites.” These
five Amorite kings, the kings of Jerusalem,
Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon, joined
forces, surrounded Gibeon, and attacked it.
(Joshua 10:2-5 GNT)
The people of Gibeon went to Joshua to ask
for help.
"The men of Gibeon sent word to Joshua at
the camp in Gilgal: “Do not abandon us, sir!
Come at once and help us! Save us! All the
Amorite kings in the hill country have joined
forces and have attacked us!” (Joshua 10:6
GNT)
Joshua sent out his entire army and special
forces.
"So Joshua and his whole army, including the
best troops, started out from
Gilgal. The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not be
afraid of them. I have already given you the
victory. Not one of them will be able to stand
against you.” All night Joshua and his army
marched from Gilgal to Gibeon, and they made
a surprise attack on the Amorites. Joshua
10:7-9 GNT
The LORD made the Amorites flee down a
pass into a fierce hail storm.
"The Lord made the Amorites panic at the
sight of Israel's army. The Israelites
slaughtered them at Gibeon and pursued them
down the mountain pass at Beth Horon,
keeping up the attack as far south as Azekah
and Makkedah. While the Amorites were
running down the pass from the Israelite army,
the Lord made large hailstones fall down on
them all the way to Azekah. More were killed
by the hailstones than by the Israelites.
Joshua 10:10-11 GNT
Joshua asked God for a longer period of
daylight to defeat his enemies.
"On the day that the Lord gave the men of
Israel victory over the Amorites, Joshua spoke
to the Lord. In the presence of the Israelites he
said,
“Sun, stand still over Gibeon;
Moon, stop over Aijalon Valley.”
Was this similar to the Midnight Sun in the
Arctic where the sun doesn't set; daylight
shines 24 hours to help Joshua win.
But, if the Earth suddenly stopped, there would
be worldwide disasters.
It's possible there could have been the earth
axis flip during that day.
Or maybe God could have created a bright
light during night, that appeared like the sun.
"The sun stood still and the moon did not move
until the nation had conquered its enemies.
This is written in the Book of Jashar. The sun
stood still in the middle of the sky and did not
go down for a whole day.
Never before, and never since, has there been
a day like it, when the Lord obeyed a human
being. The Lord fought on Israel's side!
After this, Joshua and his army went back to
the camp at Gilgal. (Joshua 10:13-15 GNT -
Good News Translation)
