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Exodus 20:21
And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where Godwas.

Deuteronomy 4:11
And ye came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire unto the midst of heaven, with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness.

Deuteronomy 5:22
These words the LORD spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and he added no more. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me.

and total darkness covered all the land of Egypt
The darkness is described as "total," indicating a supernatural event beyond a natural eclipse or sandstorm. This plague directly challenges the Egyptian sun god Ra, demonstrating Yahweh's supremacy over Egyptian deities. The darkness can be seen as a form of divine judgment, reflecting the spiritual blindness and moral darkness of Egypt. In biblical symbolism, darkness often represents judgment and separation from God (Isaiah 60:2,Matthew 8:12). This plague is the ninth, leading up to the final and most severe judgment, the death of the firstborn.

for three days
The duration of three days is significant in biblical numerology, often symbolizing completeness and divine intervention. The three days of darkness parallel the three days Jonah spent in the belly of the fish (Jonah 1:17) and the three days between Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection (Matthew 12:40). This period of darkness foreshadows the darkness that covered the land during Jesus' crucifixion (Matthew 27:45), highlighting themes of judgment and redemption. The three days also allowed for reflection and repentance, though Pharaoh's heart remained hardened.

• Moses acts in obedience to God’s explicit command (Exodus 10:21). The gesture signals dependence on the Lord, not magic or personal power.

• The upward motion acknowledges that the judgment originates from heaven, echoing earlier acts—“Moses stretched out his hand over the waters” (Exodus 7:20) and “toward heaven” to summon hail (Exodus 9:22).

• Scripture consistently ties raised hands to divine intervention and prayerful reliance (1 Kings 8:22;Psalm 28:2), reinforcing that every plague is God-initiated.

• This plague is tangible and oppressive: “a darkness that can be felt” (Exodus 10:21). It is not a mere eclipse or sandstorm; it is a supernatural blanketing of light—total, impenetrable.

• The Lord strikes directly at Egypt’s chief deity, Ra, the sun god. By blotting out light, God demonstrates supremacy over Egypt’s religion (Isaiah 19:1).

• Darkness is often a sign of divine judgment (Amos 5:18;Matthew 27:45 at the crucifixion;Revelation 16:10 over the beast’s kingdom). Each reference reminds us that rejecting God invites spiritual and literal darkness.

• The scope is nationwide, sparing only the dwellings of Israel (Exodus 10:23). God distinguishes His people, underscoring His covenant faithfulness (Exodus 8:22; 9:26).

• Egypt’s economy, agriculture, and daily routines grind to a halt. This plague dismantles any illusion of self-sufficiency, just as earlier plagues struck the Nile, livestock, and crops.

• Worldwide dominion belongs to the Lord (Psalm 24:1); He can bless or darken any land according to His purposes.

• Three full days—roughly the length of Israel’s requested journey to worship (Exodus 5:3)—expose Pharaoh’s stubborn refusal.

• The number three often marks completeness in Scripture: Abraham’s journey to Moriah (Genesis 22:4), Jonah in the fish (Jonah 1:17), and Christ in the tomb (Matthew 12:40). Here it signifies a complete, undeniable judgment.

• During those days, “no one could see his brother or rise from his place” (Exodus 10:23). The Lord forces quiet stillness, compelling reflection much like the future silence of heaven for “about half an hour” (Revelation 8:1) before further judgments.

Exodus 10:22 records an historic, literal event in which God answers Pharaoh’s hardness with a palpable darkness. Moses’ raised hand declares trust in heaven’s authority; the darkness itself showcases God’s power over false gods; its coverage of all Egypt highlights divine sovereignty; and its three-day duration underscores the completeness of judgment while foreshadowing later redemptive patterns. The verse reminds believers that the Lord alone rules light and darkness and that obedience to His Word brings deliverance while rebellion invites judgment.