22 
passage^ and also in Calmet^s Dictionary of the Bible, that 
many learned Hebraists understand by the midst of heaven/^ 
not the meridian, but that part of the sky which is midway 
between light and darkness, namely, the horizon, and which 
forms a natural division between the upper, or visible, heavens 
and the under heavens, which are invisible, as being beneath 
the apparent horizon. The word in Hebrew, which is trans- 
lated ‘^the midsV^ is chetsi, i.e., division, which quite bears 
out this idea. Again, it is observed that the words translated, 
hasted not to go down about a whole day,^^ mean hasted 
not to go down, though the day was completed.” This would 
give a very imtelligible meaning to the wdiole narrative, viz., 
that Joshua, believing that the enemy, unless completely 
destroyed, would afterwards rally, and seeing that the sun 
was near going down, commanded it (of course under inspira- 
tion) to remain above the horizon as long as daylight should 
be required to enable him to complete the destruction that 
had been commenced. This, as already observed, might not 
require a very long time — perhaps not more than one or two 
hours — and an increase in the refractive power of the 
atmosphere, either through its increased density, or through 
an increased accumulation of moisture, would be quite suffi- 
cient to prolong the light of day for that time. 
17. An objection to this reasoning has, however, been raised 
which at first sight might seem fatal. It is known that Beth- 
horon, near to which place the miracle is said to have occurred, 
lies to the west of Gibeon, and therefore, if the sun appeared 
to Joshna to stand still over Gibeon, it would seem that it must 
have been standing in the eastern part of the heavens ; from 
whence it would follow that it was then early in the day. But 
Calmet, who enters very minutely into this part of the question, 
shows that the fact of Joshua and his army being on the west 
side of Gibeon is not inconsistent with its being near the time 
of sunset. Gibeon was situated on a hill ; and the rays of the 
setting sun would shine upon it. If, then, by any means, 
those rays could be caused to retain their horizontal direction 
for some time, they would still shine upon Gibeon. It would 
be by no means an unusual figure of speech to put the sun 
itself for the rays or light of the sun ; and thus the setting sun 
might be said to stand still on Gibeon, not meaning that it was 
directly Gibeon, but that its light continued to shine upon it. 
18. As to the moon, it is said that the sense of the original 
language is satisfied if we understand that she maintained her 
brightness while the miracle lasted, not necessarily remaining 
stationary, but emitting the same effulgence. Calmet states 
some good reasons for believing that she was at the time in 
