“And to rule during the day and at night, and to divide between the light and the darkness, and God saw that it was good” (Genesis 1:18). “And to rule during the day and at night” – Rabbi Ilfa said: If this is referring to the lights, is it not already stated: “The greater light to rule the day”? Genesis 1:16). Why, then, does the verse state: “And to rule during the day and at night”?
Rather, it is referring to the righteous, who exert control over the body that was created to illuminate during the day and the body that was created to illuminate at night. That is what is written: “The sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took vengeance against their enemies. Is it not written in the book of the upright?” (Joshua 10:13). What is the book of the upright?
It is the book of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.29Genesis. Why is it called the book of the upright? It is as it is written: “Let me die the death of the upright” (Numbers 23:10).30Where “upright” alludes to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Rabbi Ḥalafta applied it [this lesson] to here: “And to rule during the day and at night.”31As Rabbi Ilfa just said.
Rabbi Ḥanin in the name of Rabbi Shmuel applied it to the end of the book: “However, his younger brother [Ephraim] will be greater than he [Manasseh]” (Genesis 48:19). Is it possible to say this?32Manasseh’s descendants were more numerous than those of Ephraim (Numbers 26:34–37). Rather, this refers Joshua, who would descend from him [Ephraim], who would cause the orbs of the sun and the moon, which rule from one end of the world to the other, to stand still.33And in that sense Ephraim was greater than Manasseh.
Rabbi Ḥanan in the name of Shmuel applied it to the end of the Torah, [where it is said of Joseph]: “A firstborn bull is his majesty…[he will gore the peoples together at the ends of the earth]” (Deuteronomy 33:17). Is it possible?34Is it possible that a king would arise from Joseph that would defeat kings throughout the world? No such king is recorded. Rather, this is Joshua, who would descend from him, and who would cause the orbs of the sun and the moon, which rule from one end of the world to the other, to stand still.35Thereby becoming known to everyone in the world.
This is as Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai said: The book of Deuteronomy was like a standard for Joshua. When the Holy One blessed be He appeared to him, he found him sitting with the book of Deuteronomy in his hand. He said to him: ‘“Be strong” Joshua, “be courageous” Joshua, “this book of the Torah shall not depart…”’ (Joshua 1:6–8). He took him and showed him to the orb of the sun.
He [Joshua] said to it: ‘Just as I have not been still from [reading] this [book], so, you shall stand still before me.’ Thereupon, “The sun stood still, and the moon stopped” (Joshua 10:13). Rabbi Yitzḥak said: He said to it: ‘Wayward slave, are you not the acquired possession of my ancestor [Joseph]? Did my ancestor not see you in a dream: “Behold, the sun and the moon…[were prostrating themselves to me]”?’ (Genesis 37:9). Thereupon, “the sun stood still, and the moon [stopped].”