According to the bible when did time stand still?

Answer 1

The Bible doesn't say that "time stood still." It says:

"So the sun and the moon stood still until the Israelites had defeated their enemies... The sun stopped in the middle of the sky, and it did not set as on a normal DAY. The LORD fought for Israel that DAY. Never before or since has there been a DAY like that one, when the LORD answered such a request from a human being." (Josh.10:13-14 NLT New Living Translation)

The King James translation says: "...So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down ABOUT A WHOLE DAY." (verse 13)

The wording of the passage clearly reveals that "time kept going"... because that 24-hour day lasted about 48-hours -- "time passed" about the length of time of two days. Except that when it was done, it was still reckoned as ONE DAY!

No "day" was lost... no "day" was gained. It was just ONE "extra-long day." Biblical reckoning of one day is the combination of one period of darkness; "night" -- and one period of "daylight."

"God called the light 'day' and the darkness 'night.' Together these made up ONE DAY." (Gen.1:5 NLT)

This arrangement normally lasts for a 24-hour period by the clock, as per the rotation of the earth as observed from any fixed position on the earth. But on this "special day" in Israel's history... that was extended for about an extra 24-hour period by the clock. But not as "observed" that "day" by those standing at that particular fixed position on the earth.

Whatever day of the week it happened to be... when it was over, it was still the same day of the week.

Matthew Henry says:

"...Notice the great faith of Joshua, and the Power of God answering it by the miraculous staying of the sun, that the day of Israel's victory might be made longer. Joshua acted on this occasion by impulse on his mind from the Spirit of God. It was not necessary that Joshua should speak, or the miracle be recorded, according to the modern terms of astronomy. The sun appeared to the Israelites of Gibeon, and the moon over the valley of Ajalon, and there they appeared to be stopped on their course for one whole day. Is any thing too hard for the LORD? forms a sufficient answer to ten thousand difficulties, which objections have in every age started against the Truth of God as revealed in His written Word..." (Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary: Joshua 7-14)