PEOPLE OF THE LAND
Selections from classical Torah sources
which express the special relationship between
the People of Israel and Eretz Yisrael

YEHOSHUA -
STOPPER OF THE SUN

When the Patriarch Yaakov blessed his grandson Ephraim that his descendant would achieve universal fame, he was referring to Yehoshua.

This prophecy was fulfilled in the great battle which Yehohua and his Israelite army fought against a consortium of five Emorite kings in the Valley of Ayalon. They had crucial Heavenly assistance in achieving their victory. Huge hailstones came raining down from Heaven upon their enemies, killing more of them than did the Israelites with their swords.

But the sun was about to set and darkness would prevent Yehoshua from completing the rout of his fleeing enemies. He therefore commanded the sun to halt until he achieved total victory. This was the only time that Heaven fulfilled such a bold request, dramatically demonstrating to an entire world, which marveled at this miracle performed for Yehoshua, that "Hashem wages war for Israel." (Yehoshua 10:12-14).