Avodah Zarah, Daf Kaf Heh, Part 1
(יהושע י, יג) וידום השמש וירח עמד עד יקום גוי אויביו הלא היא כתובה על ספר הישר.
מאי ספר הישר? א"ר חייא בר אבא א"ר יוחנן זה ספר אברהם יצחק ויעקב שנקראו ישרים שנא’ (במדבר כג, י) תמות נפשי מות ישרים
And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed until the nation had avenged themselves of their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Yashar (Joshua 10:3).
What is the book of Yashar?
R. Hiyya b. Abba said in the name of R. Yohanan: It is the book of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who are designated as righteous, as it is said, Let me die the death of the righteous (Numbers 23:10).
The book of Joshua mysteriously refers to a book known as the book of Yashar. According to R. Yohanan this is book is Genesis, the book about Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who were called righteous by Balaam. Balaam asks to die the death of the righteous the good death that Abraham, Isaac and Jacob died.
והיכא רמיזא (בראשית מח, יט) וזרעו יהיה מלא הגוים [אימתי יהיה מלא הגוים] בשעה שעמדה לו חמה ליהושע
And where is this incident hinted at [in Genesis]? And his seed shall fill the nations (Genesis 48:19): When shall [Ephraim’s fame] fill the nations? At the time when the sun will stand still for Joshua.
The rabbis now try to find a verse in Genesis that hints at the episode of the sun standing still. In Jacob s blessing at the end of the work, he foresees that Ephraim s seed will fill the nations. The simple reading is probably that the tribe of Ephraim will be numerous. But the midrashic meaning is taken to be that Ephraim s fame will fill the nations when a member of the tribe performs a wondrous act.
(יהושע י, יג) "ויעמד השמש בחצי השמים ולא אץ לבוא כיום תמים":
וכמה? א"ר יהושע בן לוי עשרים וארבעה [שעי] אזיל שית וקם שית אזיל שית וקם שית כולה מלתא כיום תמים
And the sun stayed in the midst of the heaven and hastened not to go down for about a whole day (Joshua 10:13).
How long [did the sun stand still]?
R. Joshua b. Levi said: Twenty four hours: [The sun] moved for six hours and stood still for six, then it moved for six and stood still for six, then it moved for six and stood still for six; the whole thing took about a whole day.
According to R. Joshua b. Levi the sun stood still for an extra 12 hours, such that the day which should take a total of 12 hours, actually took a total of 24 hours.