Habakkuk 3:11

The sun and moon stood still in their habitation: at the light of thine arrows they went, and at the shining of thy glittering spear.

The sun and moon stood still - at Joshua's command (Joshua 10:12-6). Maurer wrongly translates, 'stand' (withdrawn, or hidden from view, by the clouds which covered the sky during the thunders). So also Henderson, 'sun and moon stood back,' eclipsed, as it were, by the brighter effulgence of God's arrows employed in behalf of His people. But the reference to the language of Joshua is too definite to admit of this rationalistic evasion. "Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon ... So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven and hasted not to go down about a whole day."

In their habitation - i:e., "in the midst of heaven," as it is expressed in Joshua. The reference is not, as Gesenius and Henderson think, to the houses or "chambers" (Job) assigned to the celestial luminaries (answering to the signs of the zodiac, which the Hebrews call [ zªbulaah (H2073), cf. mazaalowt], habitations or lodging stations). Their range of sky is called poetically 'their habitation.'

Light of thine arrows - hail mixed with lightnings (Joshua 10:10-6, "The Lord cast down great stones from heaven

... they were more which died with hailstones than they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword").

They went - the sun and moon "went," not as always heretofore, but according to the light and direction of Yahweh's arrows-namely, His lightnings hurled in defense of His people: astonished at these, they stood still (Calvin). But the sun and moon went not, they "stood still." Maurer translates, 'at the light of thine arrows (which) went, or flew. If the English version be retained, "they went," refers to the Israelites going forth unhurt, because God's arrows and spears were employed in their behalf.