No other day so powerfully demonstrated God’s willingness to hear prayer and fight for His people.
There was no day like that before it or after it when the LORD listened to the voice of a man; for the LORD fought for Israel. (v.14) This passage occurs in the Book of Joshua, a historical narrative believed to date around the mid-to-late second millennium BC. The person Joshua, who appears here, was Moses’ successor and the leader of the Israelites. Scholars commonly place Joshua’s leadership in the late fifteenth century BC or early fourteenth century BC, following the Exodus from Egypt under Moses. The context of Joshua 10 involves an extraordinary event where the sun stood still over Gibeon, a city located several miles north of present-day Jerusalem. This moment was part of a larger battle in which God supernaturally intervened on behalf of Israel, hence the emphasis that there had never been a day like it before or since.
When we read, “…when the LORD listened to the voice of a man…” (v.14), it underscores the remarkable nature of God’s direct answer to Joshua’s plea. Ancient near-eastern cultures often recounted legends of divine interaction, but Joshua 10:14 uniquely highlights the God of Israel’s personal involvement in the affairs of His covenant people. The location of Gibeon itself was significant, as it served as one of the strategic points in the Israelite conquest of Canaan, illustrating how God fought for Israel by halting the natural progression of day and night. Reference to this divine intervention calls to mind other scriptural truths that God hears and answers prayer, as seen in Jesus’ promise that, if asked in His name, He will respond (John 14:13-14).
Finally, the verse states, “…for the LORD fought for Israel.” (v.14) This highlights the heart of God’s protection and power in fulfilling His promise to His people. It foreshadows the biblical theme of redemption and God’s mighty acts to secure victory, culminating in Jesus Christ’s triumph over the powers of sin and death (Colossians 2:15). Just as the LORD stepped in to aid Joshua and the Israelites, so King Jesus offers victory in spiritual battles for believers today (Ephesians 6:10-11).
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Joshua 10:14 meaning
There was no day like that before it or after it when the LORD listened to the voice of a man; for the LORD fought for Israel. (v.14) This passage occurs in the Book of Joshua, a historical narrative believed to date around the mid-to-late second millennium BC. The person Joshua, who appears here, was Moses’ successor and the leader of the Israelites. Scholars commonly place Joshua’s leadership in the late fifteenth century BC or early fourteenth century BC, following the Exodus from Egypt under Moses. The context of Joshua 10 involves an extraordinary event where the sun stood still over Gibeon, a city located several miles north of present-day Jerusalem. This moment was part of a larger battle in which God supernaturally intervened on behalf of Israel, hence the emphasis that there had never been a day like it before or since.
When we read, “…when the LORD listened to the voice of a man…” (v.14), it underscores the remarkable nature of God’s direct answer to Joshua’s plea. Ancient near-eastern cultures often recounted legends of divine interaction, but Joshua 10:14 uniquely highlights the God of Israel’s personal involvement in the affairs of His covenant people. The location of Gibeon itself was significant, as it served as one of the strategic points in the Israelite conquest of Canaan, illustrating how God fought for Israel by halting the natural progression of day and night. Reference to this divine intervention calls to mind other scriptural truths that God hears and answers prayer, as seen in Jesus’ promise that, if asked in His name, He will respond (John 14:13-14).
Finally, the verse states, “…for the LORD fought for Israel.” (v.14) This highlights the heart of God’s protection and power in fulfilling His promise to His people. It foreshadows the biblical theme of redemption and God’s mighty acts to secure victory, culminating in Jesus Christ’s triumph over the powers of sin and death (Colossians 2:15). Just as the LORD stepped in to aid Joshua and the Israelites, so King Jesus offers victory in spiritual battles for believers today (Ephesians 6:10-11).