Adar 1 – I will bring darkness over your land…

March 1, 2025

12 – Adar, Babylon, Egypt, Ezekiel, Pharaoh

Adar 1, 5785; from sunset February 28, 2025, to sunset March 1, 2025

(The first day of the twelfth month)

This is an image of one of the 66 stone tiles known as the “Ezekiel Plates” discovered in the 1800s at the traditional tomb site of the prophet Ezekiel. The tiles contain the entire book of Ezekiel and were placed inside the tomb with the letter-side facing toward the wall. There is an old Talmudic tradition that the original book of Ezekiel was buried with the prophet in his tomb and was left there to be revealed in the last days.

Today in the Bible is the traditional date for the plague of darkness over Egypt. However, this is not the only darkness that God has in store for the nation. The Bible lists today as the day that the word of the LORD came to Ezekiel with another prophecy for darkness in the land of “Mitzraim” (Egypt).

In the twelfth year, in the twelfth month on the first day, the word of the LORD came to me:

“Son of man, take up a lament concerning Pharaoh king of Egypt and say to him: “‘You are like a lion among the nations; you are like a monster in the seas thrashing about in your streams, churning the water with your feet and muddying the streams.

“‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: “‘With a great throng of people I will cast my net over you, and they will haul you up in my net. I will throw you on the land and hurl you on the open field. I will let all the birds of the sky settle on you and all the animals of the wild gorge themselves on you. I will spread your flesh on the mountains and fill the valleys with your remains. I will water the land with your flowing blood all the way to the mountains, and the ravines will be filled with your flesh.

I will bring darkness over your land, declares the Sovereign LORD.

When I snuff you out, I will cover the heavens and darken their stars; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon will not give its light. All the shining lights in the heavens I will darken over you; I will bring darkness over your land, declares the Sovereign LORD.

I will trouble the hearts of many peoples when I bring about your destruction among the nations, among lands you have not known. I will cause many peoples to be appalled at you, and their kings will shudder with horror because of you when I brandish my sword before them. On the day of your downfall each of them will tremble every moment for his life.

“‘For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: “‘The sword of the king of Babylon will come against you. I will cause your hordes to fall by the swords of mighty men– the most ruthless of all nations. They will shatter the pride of Egypt, and all her hordes will be overthrown.

I will destroy all her cattle from beside abundant waters no longer to be stirred by the foot of man or muddied by the hooves of cattle. Then I will let her waters settle and make her streams flow like oil, declares the Sovereign LORD.

When I make Egypt desolate and strip the land of everything in it, when I strike down all who live there, then they will know that I am the LORD.’

“This is the lament they will chant for her. The daughters of the nations will chant it; for Egypt and all her hordes they will chant it, declares the Sovereign LORD.” – Ezekiel 32:1-16

This prophecy against Egypt bears vague echoes of the plagues the LORD unleashed upon them just before the Exodus. Blood: “I will water the land with your flowing blood” is reminiscent of the Nile being turned into blood. Darkness: “I will bring darkness over your land, declares the Sovereign LORD” brings to mind the plague of darkness…which is traditionally dated to have occurred this very day.

When I snuff you out, I will cover the heavens and darken their stars.

The word translated as “snuff” in Hebrew is “kavah.” It comes from a verb root meaning “to put out a fire or flame.” It may also be used figuratively of death. All of this section of the prophecy comes against the sun gods and their inability to keep shining in the presence of the LORD.

This word of the LORD was probably intended as much for the Israelites to hear as much as it was for the Egyptians. God was telling His people, “You are in exile because you went to the Egyptians for help, instead of coming to Me…the One who brought you out of Egypt. The One who reigned over their gods.”

To view all of our posts revolving around Ezekiel, click on the image above.