DARKNESS. In the gospels of Matt. (iocvii. 45)',- Mark (xv. 33), 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.' Most of the ancient com mentators believed that this darkness extended to the whole world. But their arguments are now seldom regarded as satisfactory, and their facts even less so. Of the latter the strongest is the mention of an eclipse of the sun, which is referred to this time by Phlegon Trallianus, and after him by Thallus, ap. Africanum. But even an eclipse of the sun could not be visible to the whole world, and neither of these writers names the place of the eclipse. Some think it was Rome, but it is impos sible that an eclipse could have happened from the sixth to the ninth hour both at Rome and Jerusalem. It is therefore highly probable that the statement of Phlegon, which in the course of time has come to be quoted as independent authority, was taken from the relation of the Christians or from the Scriptures. That the darkness could not have pro ceeded from an eclipse of the sun is further 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 ex traordinary and preternatural obscuration of the solar light, which might precede and accompany the earthquake which took place on the same occasion ; for it has been noticed that often before an earthquake such a mist arises from sulphureous vapours 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 Judaea, or that division 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 iracrav Thy yi)v, rendered 'all the land.' [For the darkness that spread over Egypt, see EGYPT, PLAGUES OF.] Darkness is often used symbolically in the Scriptures as opposed to light, which is the symbol of joy and safety, to express misery and adversity (Job xviii. 6 ; Ps. cvii. to ; cxliii. 3 ; Is. viii. 22 ; ix. 1 ; lix. 9, to ; Ezek. xxx. 18 ; xxxii. 7, 8 ; xxxiv. 12). He . . that maketh the morning
darkness,' in Amos iv. 13, is supposed to be an allusion to the dense black clouds and mists at tending earthquakes. "f he day of darkness,' in Joel ii. 2, alludes to the obscurity occasioned by the flight of locusts in compact masses. [A RBEH.] In Ezek. viii. 12, darkness is described as the ac companiment of idolatrous rites. Darkness of the sun, moon, and stars, is used figuratively, to denote a general darkness or deficiency in the government or body politic (Is. xiii. o ; Ezek. xxxii. 7 ; Joel ii. to-31). In Eph. v. It, the expression works of darkness ' is applied to the heathen mysteries, on account of the impure actions which the initi ated performed in them. Outer darkness' in Matt. viii. 12, and elsewhere, refers to the dark ness 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.
Darkness is used to represent the state of the dead (Job x. 21 ; xvii. 13). It is also employed as the proper and significant emblem of ignorance (Is. ix. 2 ; IX. 2 ; Matt. vi. 23 ; John iii. 9 ; 2 Cor. iv.
1-6). [The thick darkness' in which'God it is said was (Exod. xx. 21), was doubtless the 'thick cloud upon the mount' mentioned ch. xix. 16 ; and the thick darkness' in which the Lord said that He would dwell' (1 Kings viii. 12), has reference to the cloud upon the mercy-seat, in which he promised to appear' to Aaron, and which seems to have been rather a cloud of glory and light than of darkness. When it is said (Ps. xcvii. 2) clouds and darkness are round about Him,' the reference is apparently to the inscrutability of the divine nature and working. The darkness which is fre quently (Is. xiii. 9, to ; Joel ii. 31 ; iii. t5 ; Matt. xxiv. 29, etc.) connected with the coming of the Lord, has reference to the judgments attendant on his advent.]