Kohelet (Ecclesiastes) notes that there is a “time for everything,” and now is the time for many to set the clocks back in anticipation of the shorter days of winter. Though this practice was instituted only about a century ago, we find a couple of instances in the Tanakh wherein “the clocks are set back.”

After five Amorite kings band together to attack Gibeon for making a peace treaty with Bnei Yisrael, Yehoshua comes to their aid to defend them. God tells him not to be afraid, and additionally sends fierce hailstones hurling down onto the enemy troops.  Bnei Yisrael defeat the Amorite kings- but would they have time to complete their victory before nightfall, or would the enemy attackers slink off in the night to regroup? (Joshua 10 1-11) 

Yehoshua famously calls for the sun and moon to stand still until the enemy is vanquished. Sure enough, God causes the sun to “stand still” until Bnei Yisrael complete their battle successfully.  One may posit that the plain meaning of the passage is a poetic description of the astonishing speed and efficiency with which God enables Bnei Yisrael to finish before the sun sets. In any case, it is a powerful image of adding some more time to the day (Joshua 10, 12-14).

When King Hizkiyahu is terribly ill, Yeshayahu tells him that it is a terminal illness. After Hizkiyahu prays and cries to God, Yeshayahu returns and informs Hizkiyahu that he will recover and live for another fifteen years. As a sign, God has the shadow recede 10 steps on the sundial of (the previous) King Ahaz.(II Kings 20, 1-11; Isaiah 38, 1-9).

Zekharya prophesies that there will be a day of continuous light with no “daylight” or darkness of night, and that there will be light at evening-time (Zachariah 14, 7).

For now, we can face winter while looking forward to the “light in the evening time” of summer, when we “Spring Forward” and adjust the clocks again.