The Chaldaean Paraphrast [Targum], at the beginning of chapter 1 of the Canticles [Song of Songs], says: “Ten songs were uttered in this age, and this song” (the Song of Songs, namely) “is more praiseworthy than all of them. The first song Adam uttered, at the time when his sin was remitted him: and the Sabbath day came, and protected him; he opened his mouth, and said the Psalm of the song of the Sabbath day [Ps. 92]. The second song Moses uttered, with the children of Israel, at the time when the Ruler of the age divided for them the reedy sea [the Red Sea]: they all opened their mouth, and all together said a song; for so it is written, ‘Then Moses sang, and the children of Israel’ [Exod. 15]. The third song the children of Israel uttered, at the time when the well of water was given them; for so it is written, ‘Then Israel sang’ [Num. 21:17]. The fourth song the Prophet Moses uttered, when his time came to be dissolved from this age, and he rebuked in it the house of Israel; for so it is written, ‘Hear, O heavens, and I will speak’ [Deut. 32]. The fifth song Joshua, son of Nun, uttered, when he engaged in battle at Gabaon, and the Sun and Moon stood still for him thirty-six hours, and ceased to say [their] song; he opened his mouth and uttered a song; for so it is written, ‘Then Joshua sang before the Lord.’ The sixth song Barak and Deborah uttered, on the day when the Lord delivered Sisera and his army into the hand of the children of Israel; for so it is written, ‘And Deborah sang, and Barak, son of Abinoam’ [Judges 5]. The seventh song Hannah uttered, at the time when a son was given her from before the Lord; for so it is written, ‘And Hannah prayed in prophecy, and said’ [1 Sam. 2]. The eighth song David, King of Israel, uttered, for all the miracles which the Lord did for him: he opened his mouth and uttered a song; for so it is written, ‘And David sang in prophecy before the Lord’ [2 Sam. 22]. The ninth song Solomon, King of Israel, uttered in the prophetic spirit, before the Lord, the Ruler of the whole age [the Song of Songs]. The tenth song the children of the captivity shall utter, when they shall have gone out from their captivity; for it is written, and declared by the hand of the Prophet Isaiah: ‘This song shall be to you for joy, as in the night in which the solemnity of the Passover was sanctified, and gladness of heart as of the people who walk, that they may appear before the Lord three times in the year, with the instruments of musicians and the voice of the horn-trumpet, that they may go into the mountain of the Lord, and serve the most strong God of Israel’” [Isa. 30:29].
In this same number of songs all the Rabbis sing in chorus [agree], and especially the author of the Mekilta. But I indeed in no way doubt that Joshua, and the whole people [with him], gave the greatest thanks to God. Yet the words of this chapter do not sound forth this song, from which the Rabbis, with that Chaldaean [Targumist], express it. For they are [the words of] verse 12, “Then Joshua spoke,” as was shown above (question 17). I now add the words placed here, “Sun, against Gabaon move not” — spoken forth by Joshua before the victory, as the Rabbis also seem to speak of that [song] which they attribute to him. But our question is about a Song that was sung for the sake of the victory already won. Yet perhaps in the Book of Jashar, or “of the Upright,” there existed some notable song of Joshua to God, bound in verse, by which he gave thanks for so many and so great benefits, miracles, and portents in this battle,…
(col. 1043)
…and interwove [in song] the whole series of the history, or its chief points, as is wont to be done in songs of that kind. For these [things] would seem sufficiently consonant both with what was said before about the poetry of this book, and with the custom usual in such a matter.