The story of the standing of the Sun and the Moon is recorded in the book of Joshua chapter 10. This narrative tells us that when the Cannanite Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard how Joshua in his conquest of Canaan had destroyed Ai and its king and Jericho and its king, he was greatly afraid of Israel.
But the king was more angered when he found out that the inhabitants of Gibeon, a great Canaanite city, had made peace with Israel. So, the king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish, and Debir king of Eglon, saying, let us attack Gibeon and punish it for making peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel. So, the five kings gathered together and went up to war against Gibeon (v. 5).
In dismay, the king of Gibeon sent a message to Joshua saying, save us and help us for all the kings of the Amorites have gathered against us. So, Joshua and his army went for their rescue. And the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hand; not a man of them shall stand before you” (v. 8)
Then, the LORD routed them before Israel and killed them with a great slaughter. And it happened, as they fled before Israel that God cast down large hailstones from heaven on them and they perished (v. 10,11).
And Joshua prayed to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he asked that the: “Sun, stand still over Gibeon; and Moon, in the Valley of Aijalon. So, the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the people had revenge upon their enemies” (v. 12,13).
The Lord in His mercy, granted Joshua what he prayed for (Psalm 66:19-20). The extension of the day not only provided extra time for the complete destruction of the enemies of Israel but was a very clear sign of God’s strength. It showed that the pagan gods Baal, Ashtoreth, the sun, and the moon whom the Canaanites worshiped were powerless and subject to Jehovah the Creator (Psalm 24:1).
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
