And the Sun Stood Still

[Ben Avraham]

AND THE SUN STOOD STILL

It is amazing to see how religious Scholars from almost all quarters of religious life struggling so hard to prove that a day is missing in the history of the universe which can be explained only by the "miracle" that the sun stood still so that the Israelites could win a decisive battle at the conquest of Ganaan, so they assert. Vanity of vanities! When will vanity fade? The answer is in the same chapter of Joshua for how and why the sun stood still.

According to Moses Maimonides in his Book "Guide for the Perplexed" most references to the sun, moon and stars, falling or standing, moving or standing still, are references to the powers that be. When Joshua entered the Land of Canaan with a power unmatched by any other power in the world of then five Canaanite kings got into a strong coalition composed by the city states of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon in order to be able to stop Joshua. That's when the epic myth that the sun stood still came about and here is how, according to Joshua 10:13-27.

As the Israelites were faring better in the battle and pursuing the enemies, the above coalition of kings got into the cave of Makkedah and stood still in the hope to keep the secret of their hiding place. Somehow, Joshua was told that they were hiding in that cave and Joshua ordered that a stone wall be built at the entrance to the cave, set some soldiers to watch outside and ordered the Israelites to keep on fighting and pursuing the enemy armies while the kings stood still and until the battle was over. It was a long day so-to-speak as the powers that be stood still until Joshua had achieved complete victory. Then he ordered the cave to be open and the kings to be brought out and over to be punished with death. That's when the sun stood still until the war was over. That's all. No mystery about a natural miracle. Just a strategy of Joshuah to make sure the enemy kings (sun and moon) stook still until the war was over.

 

[Tumah]

Guide for the Perplexed 2:35.

 

[Ben Avraham]

Guide for the Perplexed 2:35.

Thank you but, how about sharing with me your opinion about my metaphorical arrangement to that text that the sun stood still?

 

[Tumah]

Thank you but, how about sharing with me your opinion about my metaphorical arrangement to that text that the sun stood still?

It not supported by the author who's rule you are basing it on.

 

[whirlingmerc]

An interesting discussion is here on the long night in central america and long day on the other side of the world
http://www.geocentricity.com/astronomy_of_bible/jld/

however, one should raise a skeptical eye if they hear 'a Nasa computer was running and found an extra day'

 

[Unification]

AND THE SUN STOOD STILL

It is amazing to see how religious Scholars from almost all quarters of religious life struggling so hard to prove that a day is missing in the history of the universe which can be explained only by the "miracle" that the sun stood still so that the Israelites could win a decisive battle at the conquest of Ganaan, so they assert. Vanity of vanities! When will vanity fade? The answer is in the same chapter of Joshua for how and why the sun stood still.

According to Moses Maimonides in his Book "Guide for the Perplexed" most references to the sun, moon and stars, falling or standing, moving or standing still, are references to the powers that be. When Joshua entered the Land of Canaan with a power unmatched by any other power in the world of then five Canaanite kings got into a strong coalition composed by the city states of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish and Eglon in order to be able to stop Joshua. That's when the epic myth that the sun stood still came about and here is how, according to Joshua 10:13-27.

As the Israelites were faring better in the battle and pursuing the enemies, the above coalition of kings got into the cave of Makkedah and stood still in the hope to keep the secret of their hiding place. Somehow, Joshua was told that they were hiding in that cave and Joshua ordered that a stone wall be built at the entrance to the cave, set some soldiers to watch outside and ordered the Israelites to keep on fighting and pursuing the enemy armies while the kings stood still and until the battle was over. It was a long day so-to-speak as the powers that be stood still until Joshua had achieved complete victory. Then he ordered the cave to be open and the kings to be brought out and over to be punished with death. That's when the sun stood still until the war was over. That's all. No mystery about a natural miracle. Just a strategy of Joshuah to make sure the enemy kings (sun and moon) stook still until the war was over.

The mind of Joshua stood still until his inner enemies were overcome and conquered. Victory.

 

[Ben Avraham]

The mind of Joshua stood still until his inner enemies were overcome and conquered. Victory.

Sorry unification but, there is a rule also regarding metaphors. You can't apply a text to what you wish you did. Nice try though. The symbol taken from the kings
hiding in the cave of Makkedah is more to the point.

 

[Ben Avraham]

An interesting discussion is here on the long night in central america and long day on the other side of the world
http://www.geocentricity.com/astronomy_of_bible/jld/ however, one should raise a skeptical eye if they hear 'a Nasa computer was running and found an extra day'

Still with the Nasa computer finding of an extra day, it would be disastrous if literally the sun and the moon stood still.

 

[Ben Avraham]

It not supported by the author who's rule you are basing it on.

Sorry, perhaps you lack the understanding of metaphorical language, no offense meant.

 

[Tumah]

Sorry, perhaps you lack the understanding of metaphorical language, no offense meant.

So if I don't agree with you its because of a lack in me and not a misapplication by you.
Well, that's one way to go through life.

 

[rusra02]

The account at Joshua 10:13,14 clearly is not symbolic. "So the sun stood still and the moon did not move until the nation could take vengeance on its enemies. Is it not written in the book of Jaʹshar? The sun stood still in the middle of the sky and did not hasten to set for about a whole day. There has never been a day like that one, either before it or after it, when Jehovah listened to the voice of a man, for Jehovah was fighting for Israel."
How Jehovah performed this miracle is not stated. The fact that "there has never been a day like that one, either before or after it" marks it as a unique, historical, and miraculous event, IMO.

 

[whirlingmerc]

How it was done? God sometimes set aside natural laws... that's a possibility... after all Nehemiah 1000 years later reminds us that 'your clothes and shoes didn't wear out these 40 years' Entropy is needed for processes like digestion yet entropy was 'held back' and 'restrained' somehow somethings like the cobbler and seamstress and not other.. God is a big God after all...

The normal order of things is a providence but sometimes the normal order is set aside for a miraculous purpose for a specific reason. Not capricious or random but for a purpose.

 

[Ben Avraham]

So if I don't agree with you its because of a lack in me and not a misapplication by you.
Well, that's one way to go through life.

I feel wisdom in your words as I see a lot to learn from you.

 

[Ben Avraham]

How it was done? God sometimes set aside natural laws... that's a possibility... after all Nehemiah 1000 years later reminds us that 'your clothes and shoes didn't wear out these 40 years' Entropy is needed for processes like digestion yet entropy was 'held back' and 'restrained' somehow somethings like the cobbler and seamstress and not other.. God is a big God after all...

The normal order of things is a providence but sometimes the normal order is set aside for a miraculous purpose for a specific reason. Not capricious or random but for a purpose.

Indeed, the Israelites came out victorious from that battle against several nations with the help of HaShem but through His People, not through the natural laws. It would be rather catastrophic to stop the sun and the moon of their movements for a day.
Then, what could be a miracle for the Creator of the universe? Baruch de Spinoza in his book "Tratactus Theologico Politico" said that to attribute a miracle to the Creator of the universe, would be a sign of weakness in God.

 

[Ben Avraham]

It not supported by the author who's rule you are basing it on.

Well, somehow, I had the help of Moses Maimonides. Could it be that he was also misinformed? I doubt it.

 

[Tumah]

Well, somehow, I had the help of Moses Maimonides. Could it be that he was also misinformed? I doubt it.

Its you that's misinformed. As I quoted to you the guide at 2:35, Maimonides doesn't explain this passage in a metaphorical light.
Presumably Maimonides was also aware of Maimonides interpretation of the sun, moon, etc. as metaphors.

 

[Ben Avraham]

Its you that's misinformed. As I quoted to you the guide at 2:35, Maimonides doesn't explain this passage in a metaphorical light.
Presumably Maimonides was also aware of Maimonides interpretation of the sun, moon, etc. as metaphors.

Does he, by any chance, speak about what happened in the sky when the sun and the moon stopped moving? Joshua would have reported some thing of the sort if it had been literal. Don't you think so?

 

[whirlingmerc]

So... would it be catastrophic?.... not necessairly.... if God bent the light to do it... it doesn't say how but the sun just appears to go down and the miracle could be in the optics not in angular momentum altering

and... there also could have been a miracle in time passing slower on earth than the sun... like time going slow motion for a while on earth but not the sun.... another possibility. Time can run at different rates as per general relativity

 

[Ben Avraham]

So... would it be catastrophic?.... not necessairly.... if God bent the light to do it... it doesn't say how but the sun just appears to go down and the miracle could be in the optics not in angular momentum altering

Ask any Scientist if you can't take it from me. It could have been the end of Mankind. "If" ... you are now conjecturing. HaShem is all powerful as to do all things but one, the thing you wish He did or should have done. That's not how the Lord works. Then, there is nothing done by God which could be named a miracle. To attribute miracles to God is to diminish His credibility as the Creator of the universe. That's from the greatest of Philosophers Baruch de Spinosa in his book "Tratactus Philosophic Politico."

 

[whirlingmerc]

I am a scientist