Darkness over Egypt and the Doubled Deeps That Drowned Them

Another interpretation: the lower deep rose up over the upper deep and covered the firmament over them, and it darkened the stars over them, and "all the bright lights in the heavens" (Ezekiel 32:8). For what reason? "And I will set darkness upon your land, says the LORD" (ibid.). And so it says, "For the stars of heaven and their constellations shall not give their light" (Isaiah 13:10). For what reason? "The sun is darkened at its going forth, and the moon does not shed its light" (ibid.). And so it says, "And at Tehaphnehes the day is darkened, when I break there the yokes of Egypt, and the pride of her strength ceases in her" (Ezekiel 30:18). For what reason? Because "a cloud shall cover her, and her daughters shall go into captivity" (ibid.). And so it says, "And I will punish the world for its evil, and the wicked for their iniquity" (Isaiah 13:11). Jonah went down to one deep, as it is said, "the deep surrounded me" (Jonah 2:6); but they went down to two deeps, as it is said, "the deeps covered them." Jonah went down to one watery depth, as it is said, "You cast me into the depth" (Jonah 2:4); but they went down to two depths, as it is said, "they went down into the depths," and "depth" means nothing but mighty waters, as it is said, "You cast me into the depth," and it is written, "and their pursuers You hurled into the depths like a stone into mighty waters." And are there depths there? Is it not a shallow place? Rather, this teaches that the Great Sea broke into it, and the waters fought against them with every kind of punishment. Therefore it is said, "they went down into the depths." By the measure they measured, He measured out to them. They said, "and you shall look upon the birthstool" (Exodus 1:16), and You too made the waters for them like stones, and the waters kept striking upon the place of the stones. Therefore it is said, "like a stone."