MPV Commentary

The Sun and Moon Stand Still at the Word of Joshua.

The inspired author interrupts his account of this miraculous victory to quote an ancient poem that commemorates the mighty acts of that day. This passage is a poetic description of the victory gained by God's help and forms part of "the book of Jasher," or "the upright," a collection of national songs honoring renowned heroes. The language of poetry should not be taken literally, so when the sun and moon are personified as standing still, it means that their light was supernaturally prolonged due to refraction and reflection.

Gibeon was now behind the Israelites, and its height would soon have blocked the setting sun's rays. In front of them lay the valley of Ajalon, sometimes called "the valley of Gibeon" (Isa 28:21). It appears that Joshua's command was actually a prayer to God for this miracle to occur. Although good men like Moses often had their prayers answered, there was no other display of divine power on behalf of His people as astonishing as the one in response to Joshua's prayer.

This quotation from Jasher ends with Jos 10:15, and it is essential to note that the fact described here is recorded later (Jos 10:43).