DARKNESS (clark'nes), (Heb, 70, kho-shek', the dark; Gr. CfK6TOS, skates), in the physical sense, is specially noticed, on three occasions, in the Scriptures.
1. At the period of creation darkness, it is said, "was on the face of the deep" (Gen. i :2-4). (See COS N1OGONY.) 2. The plague of darkness in Egypt (Exod.
x :21), "darkness that might be felt." (See PLAGUES OF EGYPT.) 3. In the Gospels of Matthew (xxvii :45) and Luke (xxiii :44) we read that, while Jesus hung upon the cross, "from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour." That the darkness could not have proceeded from an eclipse of the sun is placed beyond all doubt by the fact that, it being then the time of the Passover, the moon was at the full. This darkness may, therefore, be ascribed to an extraor dinary and preternatural obscuration of the solar light, which might precede and accompany the earthquake which took place on the same occa sion. For it has been noticed that often before an earthquake such a mist arises from sulphurous vapors as to occasion a darkness almost nocturnal (see the authors cited in Kuinoel ad Matt. XXiv :29 and compare Joel ii :2; Rev. vi :12. sq.). Such a darkness might extend over Judxa. or that divi sion of Palestine in which Jerusalem stood, to which the best authorities agree that here, as in some other places, it is necessary to limit the phrase T iI 'yip, rendered 'all the land.' Darkness is often used symbolically in the Scriptures as opposed to light, which is the sym bol of joy and safety, to express misery and ad versity (Job xviii :6 ; Ps. cvii :to; cxliii :3 ; Is. viii : 22; IX:I; 11X:9, to; Ezek. xxx:t8; xxxii :7, 8; xxxiv :12).
Figuratitre. (I) Darkness of the sun, moon and stars is used figuratively to denote a general dark ness or deficiency in the government or body politic (Is. xiii :to; Ezek. xxxii :7; Joel ii :to-3t).
(2) In Eph. v :it, the expression, 'works of dark ness,' is applied to the heathen mysteries, on ac count of the impure actions which the initiated performed in them. (3) 'Outer darkness' in Is.
viii :22 ; Matt. viii :12 ; xxii :13 and elsewhere refers to the darkness outside, in the streets or open country, as contrasted with the blaze of cheerful light in the house, especially when a convivial party is held in the night time. And it may be observed that the streets in the East are utterly dark after nightfall, there being no shops with lighted windows, nor even public or private lamps to impart to them the light and cheerfulness to which we are accustomed. This gives the more force to the contrast of the 'outer darkness' with the inner light. (4) Darkness is used to represent the state of the dead (Job x :2I ; xvii :13), (5) It is also employed as the proper and significant em blem of spiritual blindness and ignorance (Is.
ix :2 ; lx :2 ; Matt. vi :23 ; John i :5 ; :to ; 2 COT. iv:1-6; 1 John ii :8, etc.). (6) To eat in dark ness is to live in perpetual anxiety and distress amidst the outward comforts of life (Eccl. v:17.) (7) To meet with darkness in the day time, and to grope at noon, is to be exceedingly infatuated, or surprised with great trouble at the height of pros perity (Job i-:14). (8) The darkness is past, and the true light shineth. The ceremonial dispensa tion is over, and Jesus is clearly exhibited in the Gospel. The state of ignorance, error, unbelief, and wickedness is over ; and believers have re ceived the knowledge, felt the power and believed the promises of God (1 John in :8).