13 And the sun [shemesh] stood still, and the moon [yarei'ach] stayed [stopped], until the people [Goy] had avenged themselves upon their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher [ Sefer HaYasher]? So the sun [shemesh] stood still in the midst of heaven [Shomayim], and hasted not to go down about a whole day [yom tamim].

The Standing Still of the Sun and Moon

There is no middle ground between believing the record or rejecting it as an invention. The record is too well attested to admit of the latter alternative. Consequently we must believe that the sun stood still at the command of Joshua, and that the sun went back ten degrees on the dial of King Ahaz.

There is no more difficulty in believing this than in believing that the Lord opened a way in the Red Sea for Israel to pass, and gave them bread from heaven in the wilderness.

But as to the way it was done, we need not trouble ourselves. Divine power is equal to the arrest or inversion of the diurnal motion of the earth, without damage to anybody, if that was necessary to cause the sun to stand still in the eyes of all Israel, or the sun's shadow to go backwards on the dial.

But it could be done by the defraction of the sun's rays, without any actual interference with the ordinary motion of the earth. This is probably what occurred. No doubt it was done the simplest way.

The fact of its occurrence is beyond doubt. It is, of course, the effect and not the modus operandi that is described.

The Christadelphian, June 1873

THE STANDING STILL OF THE SUN AND MOON,‭ ‬IN THE DAYS OF JOSHUA.‭

A correspondent‭ (‬brother C.‭ ‬G.‭ ‬Aspin,‭ ‬People's Park,‭ ‬Halifax,‭) ‬asks‭ "‬Do you consider that the words uttered by Joshua [Yehoshua]:‭ '‬Sun,‭ ‬stand thou still—and thou,‭ ‬moon,‭' &‬c.,‭ ‬can be legitimately used to upset the whole Newtonian system of Astronomy‭?"

This question he himself answers so conclusively,‭ ‬that we cannot do better than use his own words.

‭ "‬It is assumed by some that Joshua's words are inconsistent with the theory that the earth goes round the sun‭; ‬but I do not think the reasoning upon which this conclusion is founded,‭ ‬is correct or consistent with general example in other portions of scripture.‭ ‬If you will permit me,‭ ‬I will state my reasoning on Joshua,‭ ‬which is as follows.

‭ ‬I do not see any reason to attach an inspiration of spirit to Joshua's words in the abstract,‭ ‬more than to‭ "‬old shoes and clouted,‭" ‬or‭ "‬the cloak which I left at Troas,‭" &‬c.

‭ ‬A prolongation of daylight was the thing wanted in order to complete the execution of divine vengeance‭; ‬and so the wish,‭ ‬and the extraordinary faith in the divine interposition to produce the effect desired,‭ ‬were each an inspiration‭; ‬but the language or form of expression was Joshua's own,‭ ‬and uttered in accordance with his own apprehension,‭ ‬and the apprehension of those in whose hearing he uttered it.‭ ‬I think this in no way derogatory to the dignity and authority of the scriptures.‭

On the other hand,‭ ‬it would have been highly incongruous had any other form of speech been employed.‭ ‬It would have sounded strangely in the ears of Israel,‭ ‬if Joshua had said‭ '‬Earth,‭ ‬cease to move on thine axis‭!'.

They heard what was in accordance with their ideas‭; ‬and at the same time the effect produced‭ (‬which was the main thing‭)‬,‭ ‬was precisely that which would have been caused by an interruption of the earth's revolution.‭ ‬And no untruth was told.‭ ‬We speak even now according to appearances.‭ ‬We say‭ '‬the sun rises,‭' ‬or‭ '‬the sun has set,‭' ‬and truly so‭; ‬though strictly speaking,‭ ‬the expressions are out of harmony with the real philosophy of the thing.‭"

Our correspondent hits the mark as it appears to us.‭ ‬Our forms of speech are invariably derived from the aspect of things,‭ ‬and not from the essence.‭ ‬Analytical phrases would be cumbrous and unpleasant.‭ ‬We are finite and superficial,‭ ‬and our language accommodates itself to the surface.‭ ‬We say‭ "‬a fine day:‭" ‬we don't say‭ "‬a favourable concurrence of the elementary forces during the exposure of this side of the planet to the sun.‭"

So when we wish to express a good condition of health,‭ ‬we do so in words that briefly deal with the surface only‭; ‬we don't say

‭ "‬the various organs constituting the body are in a sound and active state,‭ ‬and performing their functions with freedom and alacrity,‭ ‬resulting in a liberal flow of the nervous fluid,‭ ‬and the consequent enjoyment of the several functions which derive their energy from that source.‭"

Any approach to this sort of minuteness is pedantic and borish in the highest degree.‭ ‬The mind is quick in its operations,‭ ‬and cannot bear to linger over a simple and common idea in this laborious way.‭ ‬It didn't matter in what language Joshua expressed his wish so that the result desired was understood.‭ ‬Had he said anything else than what he said,‭ ‬it would not have been generally understood.‭ ‬Besides,‭ ‬being ignorant of astronomy,‭ ‬he could not have expressed his wish in any other words.‭

For all practical purposes,‭ ‬the sun moves from east to west‭; ‬and in common conversation‭ (‬say when men are out a-field‭)‬,‭ ‬it is said to move,‭ ‬despite our knowledge that actually it is a fixture.‭ ‬If a prolongation of the day is wanted,‭ ‬what more common out-of-doors than to say‭ "‬I wish the sun would stop a bit.‭" ‬If this is the case among ourselves,‭ ‬with a correct knowledge,‭ ‬need we be surprised at Joshua's words,‭ ‬which only reflect the impressions of sense,‭ ‬and the desire for a practical result which required a continuance of light‭?

To suppose they are intended to express the relation of the heavenly bodies,‭ ‬is to be guilty of an absurdity of which even the fool-hardy sceptic ought to be ashamed.‭ "‬Then do you suppose,‭" ‬says he,‭ "‬that the earth was actually arrested in its diurnal motion‭?" ‬It may have been,‭ ‬but it was not necessary that it should.‭ ‬This was not what Joshua desired.‭ ‬He wanted a continuation of light,‭ ‬which he expressed by the synonym of the sun and moon standing still.‭

Now this could be done without the disturbance of the vast revolutions of the starry framework,‭ ‬which the suspension of the earth's motion would have caused.‭ ‬Light is refractive.‭ ‬Under divine power,‭ ‬the rays of both sun and moon could be broken at a gradually-increasing angle,‭ ‬in such a way as to give the appearance of motionless sun and moon,‭ ‬while the earth was actually accomplishing its usual revolution.

‭ ‬Is anything too hard for God‭?

‭The Ambassador of the Coming Age, Dec 1867. p315

40 So Joshua [Yehoshua] smote all the country of the hills, and of the south, and of the vale, and of the springs, and all their kings: he left none remaining, but utterly destroyed all that breathed, as Yahweh God of Israel commanded.

War in itself is an evil

... and so is the amputation of a limb. They are cruel inflictions to those who suffer by them; but often salutary in their results. Institutions are not to be judged of by their immediate workings, but by the remoter purposes they are to establish. War, punishments, and surgery, are three institutions, without which, though evil and painful operations, society would be greatly damaged.

Surgery, which is cruel work, and often practised with little or no feeling, has saved the life of many a useful member of society. Men do not petition for its abolition, because it is costly, and cruel to the patient's feelings, and no where sanctioned in the Bible. On the contrary, notwithstanding these things, they regard it as a blessing, because, though a severe remedy, it saves the lives of men.

The punishments of imprisonment, transportation, and death, are costly to the state, excruciating to the feelings of their victims, and often ruinous to their families; but are they not, nevertheless, beneficial to society?

Now war is to nations, what punishment and surgery are to society and the subjects of them—a necessary evil and 'blessing in disguise.'—The world could not progress without it.

Herald of the Kingdom and Age to Come, Oct 1852