Israel Received the Torah From Within the Darkness

Pesikta DeRav Kahana 7:12

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples, but upon you the LORD will shine, and His glory will be seen upon you" (Isaiah 60:2). Rabbi Aha bar Kahana said: Darkness and gloom served in the land of Egypt for three days. And what is the reason? "And there was darkness, thick darkness" (Exodus 10:22). But formlessness and emptiness [tohu va-vohu] have not served in this world. And where are they destined to serve? In the great city of Rome, "He shall stretch over it the line of formlessness and the stones of emptiness" (Isaiah 34:11). The Rabbis said: Concerning the nations of the world, who did not accept the Torah that was given out of the darkness, He says, "For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples" (Isaiah 60:2); but concerning Israel, who accepted it out of the darkness, He says, "But upon you the LORD will shine, and His glory will be seen upon you" (ibid.).

Themes

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