The answer is: Darkness

Exo 10

The ninth plague on Egypt sure takes the cake when it comes to weird and profound. It's hard to imagine a darkness so thick that it could be felt (Exodus 10:21). For three days, the sun ceased to shine over Egypt, plunging the land into a dense gloom. This wasn't just any ordinary darkness; it symbolized deep spiritual and societal despair, a reflection of the ignorance that strayed from enlightenment.

This darkness serves as a powerful metaphor! In the Bible, light is often associated with knowledge, truth, and life, while darkness symbolizes ignorance, lies, and death. It’s almost poetic that the preceding plagues involved increasing levels of distress, and now this final member of the 10 local crime lords, the plagues, leaves people without even the comfort of daylight.

Interestingly, the contrast to this plague is significant. The land of Goshen, where the Israelites lived, experienced light! It not only underscores the Divine protection of the Israelites but also accentuates the gravity of Egypt's continuous rebellion against truth and kindness, despite all the warning signs it had seen.

Historical writings and numerical patterns in the narratives add depth as well. Egyptian release from enslavement passes through a chiasm — a sort of mirrored structure in poetry — drawing parallels between chides for Pharaoh's pride and the ultimate revelation of power during this suffocating shade. Isn’t it fascinating how a few days of unimaginable twilight sparked a major turning point toward liberation, which rolled into celebrations like Passover? Can you think of other stories where light triumphed over darkness?