Welcome to my Hebrew reading & language series.

Exodus 10:21-24

^{Darkness engulfs Mitsraim...}

Moshe (Moses) pleaded with God to take away the locusts last week and then had his "heart made strong" by the same God. So now, it is time for the next plague to hit Far'oh (Pharaoh) and his people.

As we take up today's reading, we see the Creator instructing Moshe to stretch out his hand toward heaven that there may be Khoshekh al Erets MitsRaim (darkness over the land of Egypt). The "kh" above makes a similar sound as the "j" does in Spanish and the captial letters denote which syllable has the stress on it.

God goes on to talk about the darkness being felt in the land and that the people there did not see one another or rise over the course of three days. On the other hand, the people of Israel had day and night as normal where they lived.

So Far'oh called Moshe and told him that they could go and serve YHVH, the children can go with as well, but the flocks and herds had to stay behind. Is that not like what he said after the locusts were gone? I do not see this leader showing a lot of intelligence by offering nearly the same terms that brought on the darkness. We will see what happens next seven days from now.

Today's reading

English

Then YHVH said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness to be felt." So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was pitch darkness in all the land of Egypt three days. They did not see one another, nor did anyone rise from his place for three days, but all the people of Israel had light where they lived. Then Pharaoh called Moses and said, "Go, serve YHVH; your little ones also may go with you; only let your flocks and your herds remain behind."

Hebrew