Me and My Shadow? - 2 Kings 20:11

Question

How did the shadow retreat by ten degrees on the stairway of Ahaz? 2 Kings 20:11

Answer

2 Kings 20:11 Then the prophet Isaiah called upon the LORD, and the LORD made the shadow go back the ten steps it had gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.
Psalms 77:14 states, "You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples." This was simply a miracle. While scholars are unsure if this was the backward movement of a sundial or simply a backward shadow movement on the stairway of Ahaz (steps built up to a higher structure upon which shadows were cast during certain times of the day), it should not take away from the miracle that transpired here. This miracle can be related to, though it's somewhat different from, the sun standing still in Joshua (read - The Sun Stood Still). "Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable" (Psa. 145:3; cf. Psa. 48:1).

Answer by Dr. Joseph R. Nally, Jr.

Dr. Joseph R. Nally, Jr., D.D., M.Div. is the Theological Editor at Third Millennium Ministries (Thirdmill).