Question 21: How are we to interpret the miracle at Ajalon? Answer: The passage in Joshua 10, describing the miracle of the sun and moon at the time of the battle in the valley of Ajalon, has been much discussed. Some commentators hold that it is a passage in which the inspired historian departs from his narrative to introduce a highly poetic quotation, in other words, a poetical figure of speech, not to be interpreted literally -- as though one might say that God and all nature fought on the side of Joshua. Again, the reference to the poetical book of Jasher as the source of this passage lends colour to this explanation (see verse 13). Others prefer the literal view, regarding it as a miracle in which the hours when sun and moon were both visible (the sun on the heights of Gibeon at noon and the moon in the valley) were extended into a whole day or twelve hours of light (see Macdonalds Principia and the Bible), the continued radiance of both orbs lighting the battleground. Still another interpretation is that the sun and moon were heavily obscured by storm clouds (see verse 11) and that Joshuas prayer was that they should withhold their light and that the gloom or semi-darkness of the storm might last until the battle was fought, giving the Israelites the advantage of a surprise with smaller numbers, the strength of which the enemy could not properly estimate.
Posted on: Sat, 15 Mar 2014 11:04:11 +0000
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015