Suddenly a darkness settled upon the land, so thick and black that it seemed a "darkness which may be felt." Not only were the people deprived of light, but the atmosphere was very oppressive, so that breathing was difficult. "They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days: but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings." The sun and moon were objects of worship to the Egyptians; in this mysterious darkness the people and their gods alike were smitten by the power that had undertaken the cause of the bondmen.[* SEE APPENDIX, NOTE 2.] Yet fearful as it was, this judgment is an evidence of God's compassion and His unwillingness to destroy. He would give the people time for reflection and repentance before bringing upon them the last and most terrible of the plagues.

Pludselig kom der mørke over landet, så tæt og sort, som man kan tage og føle på. Folket blev ikke alene berøvet lyset, men luften var så trykkende, at det var vanskeligt at ånde. "Den ene kunne ikke se den anden, og ingen flyttede sig af stedet i tre dage; men overalt, hvor israelitterne boede, var der lyst". Solen og månen blev tilbedt af ægypterne. I dette mystiske mørke blev både folk og guder slået af den magt, der havde påtaget sig at føre trællenes sag. Men hvor frygtelig denne plage end var, så er den dog et bevis på Guds medlidenhed og uvillighed til at ødelægge. Han ville give folket tid til at tænke sig om og angre, inden han bragte den sidste og frygteligste af plagerne over dem.