Bible fact · Direct biblical statement
The sun stood still for Joshua
Joshua records that the sun stood still and the moon stopped until Israel had defeated its enemies at Gibeon. Joshua 10:12–14
Discover why
Joshua spoke to the LORD and said "Sun, stand still on Gibeon! You, moon, stop in the valley of Aijalon!" "The sun stayed in the middle of the sky, and didn't hurry to go down about a whole day." Joshua 10:12–13
The account says there was no day like it before or after. It also mentions that the event was written in the Book of Jashar. Joshua 10:13–14
What the Bible does not say
The text describes what was seen from the battlefield; how it happened is not explained.
Read the passage
Joshua 10:12–14 WEB
12Then Joshua spoke to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel. He said in the sight of Israel, “Sun, stand still on Gibeon! You, moon, stop in the valley of Aijalon!” 13The sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the nation had avenged themselves of their enemies. Isn’t this written in the book of Jashar? The sun stayed in the middle of the sky, and didn’t hurry to go down about a whole day. 14There was no day like that before it or after it, that the LORD listened to the voice of a man; for the LORD fought for Israel.