The Day the Sun Stood Still

@TRiG Interesting. I don't remember there being multiple narratives of one story there, either. Worthy of review. Comparing alternative narratives of the same event can make for very interesting parshanut. I take exception to his assertion that the text has Joshua performing the miracle, as it does say that he was speaking to God when he gave the "orders." ...

... I expect (to be investigated) that all of the Jewish commentators assume or state that the miracle was an act of God, in response to Joshua (admittedly rather curt, as reported) prayer.

@IsaacMoses Invoking God is a miracle, by my understanding.

And it does read as more of an invocation than a request.

@TRiG It does, but AIUI, we pretty much axiomatically believe that one can't just "invoke" the Almighty. So, we'd have to read this as more like a curt request, and then investigate why it was so curt, and why God responded favorably. I can definitely see how someone not bound to that rule as an axiom could read this passage as evidence against it.

@IsaacMoses as I understand it?

@TRiG sorry; yes

Anyone know what manuscripts (MSS (?)) are being referred to here? en.wikisource.org/wiki/Gesenius%27_Hebrew_Grammar/…

@DoubleAA After re-reading the question and sleeping on it, I see now how קרקע אינה נגזלת is relevant to the question. I am working on an edit now which includes that concept to reject the OP's suggestion of the issue of theft. I am hoping to go on and try to pursue some other possible halachic issues as well.

@Daniel Ugh my computer froze when I was almost done with a much more substantive answer. I'll have to try to re-create it later

@Daniel Bleh. That's certainly annoying

@DoubleAA No idea. I'm writing this just to make sure you realize that he doesn't specify which mss he's referring to. (Read it as if there's a comma after "MSS.".)

@msh210 Yes, that's what I suspected.