This verse from Wisdom of Solomon 17:10 describes the utter terror and helplessness of the Egyptians during the plagues that God sent upon them. Let's break down the meaning:
"They perished for very trembling": This indicates that the Egyptians were so overcome with fear and anxiety that it contributed to their demise. The terror was not just a mental state, but a physical one that weakened them.
"Refusing even to look on the air": This is the key part of the verse and open to some interpretation, but the general idea is that the darkness that enveloped Egypt during the plague (Wisdom of Solomon 17:5-10) was so oppressive and terrifying that they couldn't even bear to look up at the air around them. The darkness was not just a physical absence of light, but a palpable, suffocating presence.
"Which could on no side be escaped": This emphasizes the inescapable nature of their plight. There was no way to get away from the darkness and the fear it induced. It was all-encompassing, surrounding them from every direction.
In essence, the verse portrays a scene of absolute and overwhelming terror, emphasizing the Egyptians' complete helplessness and the inescapable nature of God's judgment. Their fear was so profound that it paralyzed them and contributed to their suffering, refusing even to look or go outside.
The darkness wasn't just about the lack of light; it was symbolic of their spiritual and moral darkness, as well as God's punishment for their oppression of the Israelites.
This verse from Wisdom of Solomon 17:10 describes the utter terror and helplessness of the Egyptians during the plagues that God sent upon them. Let's break down the meaning:
"They perished for very trembling": This indicates that the Egyptians were so overcome with fear and anxiety that it contributed to their demise. The terror was not just a mental state, but a physical one that weakened them.
"Refusing even to look on the air": This is the key part of the verse and open to some interpretation, but the general idea is that the darkness that enveloped Egypt during the plague (Wisdom of Solomon 17:5-10) was so oppressive and terrifying that they couldn't even bear to look up at the air around them. The darkness was not just a physical absence of light, but a palpable, suffocating presence.
"Which could on no side be escaped": This emphasizes the inescapable nature of their plight. There was no way to get away from the darkness and the fear it induced. It was all-encompassing, surrounding them from every direction.
In essence, the verse portrays a scene of absolute and overwhelming terror, emphasizing the Egyptians' complete helplessness and the inescapable nature of God's judgment. Their fear was so profound that it paralyzed them and contributed to their suffering, refusing even to look or go outside.
The darkness wasn't just about the lack of light; it was symbolic of their spiritual and moral darkness, as well as God's punishment for their oppression of the Israelites.
