When it comes to the plague of darkness, there is an obvious question. Why didn’t the Egyptians just simply light a candle and end the darkness? With the other plagues, they really had no options to end them, but here they did, so why ignore the obvious solution?

There is a fascinating comment made by a Biblical commentator called Ohr HaChaim based on a very nuanced reading of the Hebrew text.

The verse could have left out the last four words, “in their dwelling places.” It could have easily said “that for all of Israel there was light” and this would have demonstrated the contrast that it was dark for the Egyptians and light for the Israelites. So what do the words “in their dwelling places” add to our understanding?

Pay attention carefully! The words “in their dwelling places” can refer to the dwelling places of the Egyptians! Meaning that it was dark for the Egyptians in their dwelling places and it was light for the Israelites even within the dwelling places of the Egyptians! The same place but two different experiences!

Why would it be dark for the Egyptians and light for the Israelites in the Egyptian dwelling places?

There are many reasons why sometimes people are blind to what is right in front of them.

Sometimes it can come from the “haves” and “have nots.” Those who are materially successful may be blind to those who are not and lack the ability to see or relate to someone who is not their economic equal.

It can come from the simple inability to see others who are not like you. Perhaps this is the reason why the Torah repeats 36 times that we should love the stranger because naturally, it is very difficult to relate to and connect with someone who is so different.

Lastly, blindness can come from our own selfishness and narcissism. We become so self-absorbed that we make no effort to go beyond satisfying our own self-interests. While we could, with effort, see the other, our blindness comes from a lack of effort to go beyond ourselves.

Darkness is something we must overcome every day.