Why the Presumptuous Walked in Darkness Up the Mountain

"And they presumed [va-yaʿpilu]" — it is a term of darkness, like "and they darkened [va-yaʾafilu]," because the wicked one is called darkness, as it is said, "And their deeds [their eyes] are in the dark" (Isaiah 29:15). And why? Because they did the thing presumptuously, for Moses was restraining them not to go and enter the Land, and it was impossible to nullify the decree; yet they were trusting to nullify it by what they had said, "for we have sinned." Therefore it is said, "And they presumed," as it is said, "but the fool walks in darkness" (Ecclesiastes 2:14).