Commentaries:
No entry exists in Forerunner Commentary for Joshua 10:12.
Joshua 10:12-14
Excerpted from: Joshua's Four Miracles (Part Two)We could actually even translate this "at that time." Or we could translate it "then." But what it is showing here was specifically that this in verses 12 to 14 was happening concurrently with what was happening in 9 through 11. And we do not know exactly which time it actually occurred. You know, we cannot say that Joshua did this as soon as he arrived in Gibeon, or whether it was a little bit later as the battle progressed. We do not know. But I think we are supposed to see them concurrently.
Now commentators spill copious amounts of ink and waste a lot of time trying to explain this miracle using reason. They seem to forget what miracles are—because by definition, miracles are inexplicable by human means or through human reason. We just have to accept the simple fact that we do not know how this was accomplished.
It seems impossible that God would stop the earth from spinning and allow the sun to shine. I mean, what would it do to the earth if the sun was shining on one part for a day and not spinning away from that? I do not know. I am just thinking there is a lot of ideas here that you would have to sift through to get any idea of how this was done.
And commentators for centuries—millennia now—have kind of thrown up their hands and said we do not know what happened here. The text is too sparse. It contains no explanation of the astronomical or chronological means by which it occurred. So I am telling you right now, I do not know.
It only gives bare facts: God did something to prolong the day for the Israelite army to achieve total victory. In fact, the text itself says this day was unique: no day before, no day after it has been like this. We do not know how God did it. But this extension of daylight was necessary because of that route from Gibeon through the pass of Beth Horon and down through the valley of Aijalon to Azekah was about 20 miles.
Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing Joshua 10:12:
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