“And when I blot you out I will cover the heavens,
And make their stars dark,
I will cover the sun with a cloud,
And the moon will not give her light.
All the bright lights of heaven will I darken over you,
And set darkness on your land,
Says the Lord Yahweh.”
This is not strictly the language of apocalyptic but it is comparative. Here, however, it is certainly by natural means (‘with a cloud'). The demise of Pharaoh and the greatness of Egypt is so great an event that even nature responds to it. It is so solemn that it must be accompanied by the lights going out. Sun, moon and stars will respond to the moment. It reminds us of another time when the lights in Egypt went out at the exodus (Exodus 10:21-23). And it is the same God has intervened again. It had added significance in that Pharaoh was believed to be connected with the sun god, thus his supposed relatives will mourn for him.