66 The construction is a variation of the superlative genitive: a substantive in the construct state is connected to a noun with the same meaning (see §133.i).
67 S. R. Driver says, “The darkness was no doubt occasioned really by a sand-storm, produced by the hot electrical wind … which blows in intermittently …” (Exodus, , ). This is another application of the antisupernatural approach to these texts. The text, however, is probably describing something that was not a seasonal wind, or Pharaoh would not have been intimidated. If it coincided with that season, then what is described here is so different and so powerful that the Egyptians would have known the difference easily. Pharaoh here would have had to have been impressed that this was something very abnormal, and that his god was powerless. Besides, there was light in all the dwellings of the Israelites.

In other versions

So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was pitch darkness in all the land of Egypt three days.

So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and total darkness covered all Egypt for three days.

So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was thick darkness throughout the land of Egypt for three days.

So Moses lifted his hand to the sky, and a deep darkness covered the entire land of Egypt for three days.

And Moses stretched out his hand toward the heavens, and there was darkness of night in all the land of Egypt for three days.

And Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven; and there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt three days:

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