The answer is: 3

Exo 10:22

When the ninth plague hit Egypt, darkness took over for three days, a powerful symbol not only of physical absence of light but also of spiritual darkness. Imagine not being able to see anything, even your hand in front of your face—pretty eerie. This wasn't just any ordinary darkness; the Bible describes it as a thick darkness that could be felt. That's some serious intensity!

Interestingly, many scholars note that this darkness likely reflected the Egyptians' worship of the sun god, Ra. With the sun hidden, the Egyptians faced direct challenge to their belief system, and it highlighted the futility of their reliance on false deities. There’s more here too; the number three pops up a lot in the Bible—often symbolizing completeness and divine timing. Think about Jonah in the belly of the great fish for three days or Jesus' resurrection after three days.

And here lies a fascinating echo: the use of darkness is mirrored in later biblical themes, where light consistently represents holiness, righteousness, and truth. The idea of moving from darkness to light signifies transformation in the texts, inviting interpretation that resonates deeply throughout.

When exploring this dark moment in Egypt, remember that it's packed with depth and connections found throughout the scriptures. It allows us to reflect on our own sources of light and the parts of ourselves that might still feel shrouded in darkness.