Exodus 10:23Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Are you not aware that the Egyptians traversed by day as though still in darkness, while the Israelites perceived the light? Even when darkness enveloped everything, the light was present in the beginning amidst the shadow. The Creator remains supreme over all creation, not merely by bringing forth what has not yet come into being, but also by transforming the essence of that which already exists.

In a similar manner, we can comprehend that the Egyptians experienced a darkness overshadowed by the use of the rod, while the Hebrews basked in the radiant light of the sun. This illustrates the foundational idea we have expressed: it is not an external force that casts some into darkness while others dwell in light. Rather, we, in our human nature and volition, create the conditions for both illumination and shadow, shaping our experience according to our desires. The narrative reveals that the light enjoyed by the Hebrews did not result from any physical barrier obstructing sight or preventing sunlight from reaching the Egyptians.

However, the Israelites were granted illumination, enabling them to find relief from their toil and collect all their belongings in anticipation of their departure.

The interpreters of this passage suggest that the land of Goshen, where the people of Israel resided, remained untouched by darkness. Although some Israelites had previously inhabited the entire Nile delta, the widespread calamities, along with the plagues that overlooked the land of Goshen, likely compelled them all to gather there, as they eagerly awaited the moment when they would be granted their liberation.