How Long the Sun Stood Still and What the Book of Jashar Is

What is the Book of Jashar [the Upright]? Rabbi Chiyya bar Abba said: This is the book of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who are called upright, as it is said, "Let my soul die the death of the upright [yesharim]" (Numbers 23:10). Rabbi Elazar says: This is the book of Deuteronomy, in which it is written, "and you shall do what is upright [ha-yashar] and good" (Deuteronomy 6:18). Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachmani said: This is the book of Judges, in which it is written, "each man did what was upright in his own eyes" (Judges 17:6, 21:25). "And the sun stood still in the midst of the heavens" (Joshua 10:13). And how long was that day? Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: twenty-four hours — it traveled six and stood still six, traveled six and stood still six; the whole matter was as one full day. Rabbi Elazar says: thirty-six — it traveled six and stood still twelve, traveled six and stood still twelve; its standing still was as a full day. Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachmani says: forty-eight — it traveled six and stood still twelve, traveled six and stood still twenty-four, "and it did not hasten to set for about a full day" (Joshua 10:13), implying that at first it was not a full day. There are those who say in the Tosefta that Rabbi Yehoshua disputes: he says twenty-four — traveled six and stood still twelve, traveled six and stood still twelve, its standing still as a full day. Rabbi Elazar says thirty-six — traveled six and stood still twelve, traveled six and stood still twenty-four, "and it did not hasten to set for about a full day," implying that at first it was not a full day. Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachmani says forty-eight — traveled six and stood still twenty-four, traveled six and stood still twenty-four, comparing its standing still to its setting: just as its setting was a full day, so its standing still was a full day. It was taught: Just as the sun stood still for Joshua, so it stood still for Moses and for Nakdimon ben Gurion. As for Joshua, this is from Scripture; as for Nakdimon ben Gurion, this is from tradition. For Moses, from where do we know it? Rabbi Elazar said: it is derived by the linked word "I will begin" [achel]: it is written here, "I will begin to put the dread of you" (Deuteronomy 2:25), and it is written there, "I will begin to magnify you" (Joshua 3:7). Rabbi Yochanan said: it is derived by the linked word "give" [tet]: it is written here "I will begin to put [tet] the dread of you," and it is written there, "on the day the LORD gave [tet] the Amorite" (Joshua 10:12). Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachmani said: it is from the verse itself, "who will hear the report of you" — "and they shall tremble and be in anguish before you" (Deuteronomy 2:25), when did this happen? At the time the sun stood still for him. They raised an objection: "and there was no day like it before it or after it" (Joshua 10:14). If you say it concerns the hours, they were not so much greater. And if you say it concerns the hailstones, were there not such, as it is written, "and as they fled before the children of Israel, the LORD cast down upon them great stones" (Joshua 10:11)? The sixth wonder: from the day the heavens and earth were created, the sun and moon and stars rise to give light upon the earth, until Joshua came and waged the war of Israel, and the eve of the Sabbath drew near, and he saw the distress of Israel, that they should not desecrate the Sabbath, when he saw the wise men of the nations consulting the constellations to come against Israel. What did he do? He stretched out his hands toward the light of the sun and the light of the moon and pronounced the Name over them, and each one stood in its place thirty-six hours until the going-out of the Sabbath, as it is said, "and the sun was silent and the moon stood still" (Joshua 10:13). And all the kings of the earth saw it and were astonished, for there had been nothing like it since the world was created, as it is said, "and there was no day like it before it or after it, that the LORD hearkened to the voice of a man, for the LORD fought for Israel" (Joshua 10:14).