Then spake Joshua to the LORD in the day when the LORD delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon.
12. Then spoke Joshua to the Lord, etc Such is the literal reading, but some expound it as meaning before Jehovah: for to speak to God, who, as piety dictates, is to be suppliantly petitioned, seems to be little in accordance with the modesty of faith, and it is immediately subjoined that Joshua addressed his words to the sun.
Joshua's promise to the Gibeonites bound him not merely to spare them but to defend them as his own servants sheltering under God's wings. When he moved from Gilgal to relieve them, he walked in duty, and God's word settled all fear: those marked for destruction can neither resist nor escape, however many kings confederate against you.
AI summary
Commenting on Joshua 10:7-14
Then spake Joshua to the Lord,.... In prayer, and entreated as follows, that the sun and moon might stand still, until the victory was complete; though the Jewish writers interpret it of a song; so the Targum, then Joshua praised, or sung praise, as in the Targum on Sol 1:1; and which is approved of by Jarchi and Kimchi: in the day when the Lord...