A sundial is an ancient timekeeping device that uses the position of the sun to indicate the time of day. It consists of a flat plate (the dial) and a gnomon, which casts a shadow on the dial. As the sun moves across the sky, the shadow aligns with different hour lines marked on the dial, allowing the observer to read the time.

Biblical References:

The most notable reference to a sundial in the Bible is found in the account of King Hezekiah's illness and miraculous recovery. In 2 Kings 20:8-11 and Isaiah 38:7-8, the sundial of Ahaz is mentioned. Hezekiah, king of Judah, was gravely ill, and the prophet Isaiah informed him that he would recover. As a sign of this promise, Hezekiah asked for a miraculous sign. The Lord caused the shadow on the sundial of Ahaz to move backward ten steps, a supernatural event that confirmed God's promise to extend Hezekiah's life by fifteen years.

2 Kings 20:9-11 states: "Isaiah answered, 'This will be the sign to you from the LORD that He will do what He has promised: Shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or back ten steps?' 'It is easy for the shadow to lengthen ten steps,' replied Hezekiah, 'but not for it to go back ten steps.' So Isaiah the prophet called out to the LORD, and He brought the shadow back the ten steps it had descended on the stairway of Ahaz."

Historical and Cultural Context:

The sundial of Ahaz is one of the earliest recorded instances of a sundial in the ancient Near East. Sundials were used by various ancient civilizations, including the Egyptians, Babylonians, and Greeks, to measure time. The mention of a sundial in the biblical narrative indicates the presence of advanced timekeeping methods in the kingdom of Judah during the reign of Ahaz and Hezekiah.

The sundial's function in the biblical account serves as a testament to God's sovereignty over creation, demonstrating His ability to alter the natural order as a sign of His power and faithfulness. The backward movement of the shadow was a miraculous event that defied the natural laws of physics, emphasizing the divine intervention in Hezekiah's life.

Theological Significance:

The account of the sundial of Ahaz highlights several theological themes. First, it underscores God's control over time and nature, affirming His omnipotence. Second, it illustrates God's willingness to provide signs to strengthen the faith of His people. Hezekiah's request for a sign and God's response demonstrate the personal relationship between God and His chosen leaders, as well as His responsiveness to their needs and prayers.

Furthermore, the event serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness to His promises. The extension of Hezekiah's life and the miraculous sign of the sundial underscore the reliability of God's word and His commitment to His covenant people.

In summary, the sundial in the biblical narrative is not merely a timekeeping device but a symbol of divine intervention and assurance. It reflects the intersection of the natural and supernatural, where God's power is made manifest in the physical world to fulfill His purposes and promises.(n.) An instrument to show the time of day by means of the shadow of a gnomon, or style, on a plate.

The Ambassadors from Babylon
... Only by the direct interposition of God could the shadow on the sundial be made
to turn back ten degrees; and this was to be the sign to Hezekiah that the Lord ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 29 the ambassadors from.htm

Our Lord's Solemn Enquiry
... sundials. We can tell what is o'clock by the sundial when the sun shines,
but if it does not what is the use of the sundial? And ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 62 1916/our lords solemn enquiry.htm

Rendering Our Account.
... There is a motto very commonly engraved upon a sundial, which means that the moments
of time are perishing, and are being recorded in God's Book. ...
/.../sermon xliv rendering our account.htm

Chaldaean Civilization
History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 3. <. ...
/.../chapter iiichaldaean civilization.htm

Sundial (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Sundial (1 Occurrence). ... So the sun returned ten
steps on the sundial on which it had gone down."'" (WEB). ...
/s/sundial.htm - 6k

Backward (39 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 38:8 Behold, I will cause the shadow on the sundial, which has gone down
on the sundial of Ahaz with the sun, to return backward ten steps. ...
/b/backward.htm - 18k

Dial (2 Occurrences)
... An instrument, formerly much used for showing the time of day from the shadow of
a style or gnomon on a graduated arc or surface; esp., a sundial; but there ...
/d/dial.htm - 19k

Shadow (72 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 38:8 Behold, I will cause the shadow on the sundial, which has gone down
on the sundial of Ahaz with the sun, to return backward ten steps. ...
/s/shadow.htm - 35k

Steps (113 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Isaiah 38:8 Behold, I will cause the shadow on the sundial, which has gone
down on the sundial of Ahaz with the sun, to return backward ten steps. ...
/s/steps.htm - 34k

Sundered (1 Occurrence)

/s/sundered.htm - 6k

Sun-dial (1 Occurrence)
Sun-dial. Sundial, Sun-dial. Sundown . Multi-Version Concordance Sun-dial
(1 Occurrence). ... (See JPS WBS). Sundial, Sun-dial. Sundown . Reference Bible.
/s/sun-dial.htm - 6k

Ahaz (42 Occurrences)
... Isaiah 38:8 Behold, I will cause the shadow on the sundial, which has gone down
on the sundial of Ahaz with the sun, to return backward ten steps. ...
/a/ahaz.htm - 43k

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