10:13a

So the sun stood still: The clause So the sun stood still is a result clause. This was what happened as a result of Joshua’s prayer. Use whatever connecting word indicates a result in your language. The clause the sun stood still indicates that the sun remained in the same place in the sky. God answered Joshua’s prayer and caused the sun to stay still.

and the moon stopped: The clause and the moon stopped indicates that the moon remained in one place in the sky, because Joshua prayed for this to happen. God answered Joshua’s prayer and caused the moon to stay still.

10:13b

until the nation took vengeance upon its enemies: The sun and moon did not move through the sky for a long period of time. This allowed Israel to finish the battle against their enemies.

the nation: The phrase the nation refers to the Israelites.

took vengeance upon its enemies: The clause took vengeance upon its enemies indicates that the Israelites defeated the Amorites.

10:13c

Is this not written in the Book of Jashar?: This is a rhetorical question that functions as a statement. The expected response is “yes, it is.” It may be more natural in some languages to translate this as a statement. For example:

This is what is written down in the Book of Jashar

the Book of Jashar: The term Book of Jashar probably refers to a collection of stories about wars. It is also mentioned one other place in the Old Testament, 2 Samuel 1:18.

10:13d

So the sun stopped in the middle of the sky: Here is another way to translate this phrase:

The sun stayed in the midst of heaven (Revised Standard Version)

10:13e

and delayed going down about a full day: This clause adds information about the length of time the sun did not move in the sky. Yahweh made the sun stay in one place for about one day. The Hebrew clause that the Berean Standard Bible translates as delayed going down is a Hebrew idiom.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

and did not go down for a whole day (Good News Translation)

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