# Shall the shadow go forward ten steps, or go back ten steps?

The source of "the shadow" can be stated clearly. Alternate translation: "Do you want Yahweh to make the shadow caused by the sunlight on the stairway to go forward ten steps or to go back ten steps?" (See: [[rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit]])

# ten steps

This expression refers to the "stairway of Ahaz" in [2 Kings 20:11](../20/11.md). This was probably a special stairway built for King Ahaz in such a way that its steps marked the hours of daylight as the sun's rays advanced along them. In this way, the staircase served to tell the time during the day.

