Light for Israel and Tangible Darkness for Egypt at the Sea

(Exodus 14:20) "And it came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel, and there was the cloud and the darkness." The cloud was over Israel, and the darkness was over Egypt. Scripture tells us that Israel were in light while Egypt were in gloom. And so too in Egypt: "they did not see one another" (during the plague of darkness). And so you find regarding the time to come (Isaiah 60:1), "Arise, shine, for your light has come." Why? Because (Isaiah 60:2) "behold, darkness shall cover the earth," and so forth. And not only that, but whoever is set in gloom can see whoever is set in light. The Egyptians, who were set in gloom, could see Israel set in light, eating and drinking and rejoicing, and they hurled arrows and ballista-stones at them, but the cloud [shielded them], as it is said, "Fear not, Abram, I am a shield to you" (Genesis 15:1), and it is said (2 Samuel 22:3), "my shield and the horn of my salvation," and it says (2 Samuel 22:31), "He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him." "And the one did not come near the other all the night" (Exodus 14:20): Scripture tells us that an Egyptian who was standing could not sit, who was sitting could not stand, who was unloading could not load, who was loading could not unload, because there was substance in the gloom, as it is said (Exodus 10:21), "and let the darkness be felt."