Exodus 10:23, commentary and pictures

A palpable gloom settled over all Egypt for three days, so dense that people could not see each other or leave their places, while the homes of Israel remained full of light. The air itself grew heavy and hard to breathe for the Egyptians, yet the Hebrews enjoyed clear light and pure air in their dwellings. The plague fell upon the Egyptians and upon the sun and moon they worshiped, proving that Jehovah alone commands light and the powers of nature and exalting Him above their idols, while by that sharp contrast He set Israel apart and shielded His oppressed people to free them. By stopping all common labor it gave Egypt a pause to consider and turn before the final and most terrible judgment, yet Pharaoh hardened himself to endure rather than yield, while Moses grew strong in fearless trust. The same division will appear at the coming of Christ in power and glory with the Father and the holy angels, when the whole world is wrapped in darkness but all the saints have light in their dwellings and rejoice, because they have walked in daily communion with Him and His glory has risen upon them.

Nature of the Darkness

The plague was a thick darkness that could be felt, covering all the land of Egypt for three days. It was so complete that the Egyptians saw not one another, and none rose from his place through all that time. But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings where they lived.

The darkness was more than loss of light, for the air in Egypt became very oppressive so that breathing was difficult. By contrast the Hebrews had light and a pure atmosphere in their homes. It was sent after the locusts because Pharaoh chose to endure the plagues rather than submit to God and showed no remorse while his whole kingdom lay under judgment. It came just before the last and most severe plague upon Egypt and the night when the Passover was instituted. In density, extent, and duration that darkness in Egypt in the time of Moses was equaled by the Dark Day of May 19, 1780, and no period of darkness of equal density, extent, and duration occurred between Moses and that day.

Judgment Mercy and Deliverance

The darkness was one of the signs and mighty wonders that display the power of the living God who can save or destroy. It fell upon the Egyptians and upon the sun and moon they worshiped as Isis and Osiris, regarded as gods of the sun and moon, to show that Jehovah alone rules the light and the elements and to display His supremacy over Egypt's idols. By setting gloom over Egypt against light in the dwellings of Israel, God distinguished Israel from Egypt and defended and protected His enslaved people in the midst of the plague, serving His purpose of liberating Israel.

The judgment also revealed God's compassion and reluctance to destroy, for by halting ordinary activity so that for three days none saw another or rose from his place, it gave the Egyptians time to reflect and repent before the final scourge. Pharaoh met it with hardened rebellion, choosing to endure the plagues rather than submit to God and showing no remorse while his whole kingdom lay under judgment. Moses met the same signs with strengthened faith and fearless trust in God.

Prophecy and Spiritual Meaning

The darkness in Egypt foreshadows what will occur at Christ's second coming, when the whole world will be plunged in darkness while the saints alone will have light in their dwellings. They will catch the first light of His appearing, the first light of His second appearing. At that time He is coming with power and great glory, with His own glory and with the glory of the Father, attended on His way by the holy angels. Unsullied light will shine from His splendor, and Christ the Redeemer will be admired by all who have served Him. While the wicked flee from His presence, His followers will rejoice in His presence.

The light will be theirs because Christ has been to them a daily companion and familiar friend, and they have lived in close, constant communion with God. The glory of the Lord has risen upon them, and the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ has been reflected in them. Now they rejoice in the undimmed rays of the brightness and glory of the King in His majesty. They are prepared for the communion of heaven, for they have heaven in their hearts.

The Egyptian darkness was extreme, heavy blackness, an intensely black, heavy gloom. It gives the measure for a spiritual darkness in which a satanic, mesmeric influence brings gloom and oppression over a meeting and crushes the life from prayer, leaving behind an influence even blacker than that Egyptian darkness. That same oppressing gloom that crushes out spiritual life pictures the influence of agents working under satanic power while claiming the Spirit of the Lord, whose presence kills union, crushes the life from prayer, and leaves a spiritual blackness behind. In the same sense the darkness that was upon Egypt represents the condition of a mind bound up with those who belong to the army of the great apostate, standing on the enemy's ground and doing his work.