The Plague of Darkness and the Angels Who Doubled It

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Bo 1:1

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

(Exodus 10:21:) "Then the LORD said to Moses: Stretch out your hand toward the heavens, [that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt]," etc. This is what Scripture says (Psalms 105:28): "He sent darkness and made it dark; [and they did not defy His word]." The darkness that the Holy One, blessed be He, sent upon the Egyptians was very severe. R. Acha said: It was because they did not accept the authority of the Holy One, blessed be He, over themselves. Our Rabbis said: What is the meaning of "they did not defy His word"? It refers to their having exchanged the word of the Holy One, blessed be He. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to the ministering angels: The Egyptians deserve to be smitten with darkness. Immediately they consented and said, "Yes." Not one of them defied the Holy One, blessed be He, after [Him]. "They did not defy His word." "He sent darkness and made it dark." To what is the matter comparable? To a king against whom his servant offended, and he said to one [of his men]: Go and strike him fifty [lashes]. He went and struck him a hundred, and added to it on his own. So too the Holy One, blessed be He, sent darkness upon Egypt, and the darkness was increased. "He sent darkness and made it dark."

Themes

Divine JusticeEgypt

Biblical References

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