Sun: Joshua doubtless acted, on this occasion, by an immediate impulse upon his mind from the Spirit of God. The terms here employed to record the miracle, agree with the accustomed manner in which the the motions of the earth and sun are described in our own day. The sun apparently moves, but really is stationary; while the diurnal movement of the earth on its axis is by us unnoticed, and would not have been known except by astronomical science. The sun appeared to the Israelites over Gibeon, and the moon over the valley of Ajalon, and there they stayed in their course for "a whole day." Many vain enquiries have been made concerning the way in which this miracle was wrought, and many difficulties and objections have been urged against understanding it literally. But the fact is authenticated by the Divine testimony; and the manner in which it was accomplished lies entirely out of our province, because beyond our comprehension. Joshua 10:13; Deuteronomy 4:19, Deuteronomy 17:3; Job 9:7, Job 31:26-27; Psalms 19:4, Psalms 74:16, Psalms 148:3; Isaiah 28:21, Isaiah 38:8, Isaiah 60:20; Amos 8:9; Habakkuk 3:11
stand thou: Heb. be silent, Habakkuk 2:20 *marg. Zechariah 2:13
Ajalon: Joshua 19:42; Judges 12:12, Aijalon