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Plagues - Ninth Plague - The Darkness (Ex. 10:21-29)

'Then the Lord said to Moses: Stretch out your hand toward the sky, that over the land of Egypt there may be such darkness that one can feel it. So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and there was dense darkness throughout the land of Egypt for three days. People could not see one another, nor could they get up from where they were, for three days. But all the Israelites had light where they lived. 

Pharaoh then summoned Moses and Aaron and said, “Go, serve the Lord. Only your flocks and herds will be detained. Even your little ones may go with you.” But Moses replied, “You also must give us sacrifices and burnt offerings to make to the Lord, our God. Our livestock also must go with us. Not an animal must be left behind, for some of them we will select for service to the Lord, our God; but we will not know with which ones we are to serve the Lord until we arrive there.” But the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he was unwilling to let them go. Pharaoh said to Moses, “Leave me, and see to it that you do not see my face again! For the day you do see my face you will die!” Moses replied, “You are right! I will never see your face again (Ex. 10:21-29).”’

Ancient Egypt sometimes experienced sandstorms that blackened the sky.  That should not take away from the palpable plague of darkness sent by God that lasted three days.  Ra, the Egyptian sun god, could not produce light for Pharaoh.  It is impossible for humans to exist without light.  Darkness in the Bible is sometimes compared with the condition of the earth before creation (Gen. 1:2).  Pharaoh again tried to force the Hebrews to return after they worship their God by not letting them take their livestock.  This was similar to when he tried to hold the women and children hostage in the previous plague.  Moses replied that some of the animals were needed for sacrifice.  Christians see this as an allusion to the Passover sacrifice.  

Almighty God, the light of the world who was at creation with you has, through his incarnation, death and resurrection, elevated mankind to a status higher than the angels and all who believe in him may share in his incomparable glory.  Help us to cast aside our gods so that the glory of your Son may shine through our darkness and be a light under our feet on the path to eternal life.  This we pray through Christ our Lord.  Amen!

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References:

Raymond E. Brown, Joseph A. Fitzmyer, & Roland E. Murphy, (Eds.). (1990, 1968). The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentis Hall, Inc.

Jose M. Casciaro, Luis A. Martin, Gonzalo Aranda, Claudio Basevi, Antonio Garcia-Moreno, James Gavigan, Brian McCarthy, & Thomas McGovern (Eds.). (1999). The Navarre Bible - The Pentateuch. Dublin 8, Ireland: Four Courts Press.

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