שמות, פרק י׳, פסוק ט״ו

The plague of locusts struck Egypt as an event of absolute destruction, attacking the nation simultaneously from the air and on the ground. The invasion not only wiped out the last of their food supply but also stripped away the basic ability to see the land and the sunlight. The swarms were so massive and densely packed that they left no empty space. The familiar appearance of the ground vanished entirely from sight as the earth's surface turned a solid black [רבנו בחיי, רלב״ג, בכור שור, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

As the invasion unfolded, a deep darkness settled over the region. The primary approach among commentators is that this darkness was caused by the sheer volume of flying locusts hovering in the air. The massive swarm formed a living canopy that separated the earth from the sun, blocking out the light and casting a heavy shadow [אבן עזרא, רלב״ג, חזקוני, אלשיך, מלבי״ם]. This phenomenon of high-flying locusts darkening the sky like thick smoke has also been documented by travelers in later periods [שד״ל, אם למקרא]. Alternatively, some explain that the darkness refers directly to the ground itself, which appeared black due to the endless carpet of insects resting upon it [רבנו בחיי, קאסוטו]. Beyond the physical shadow, this darkness reflected the deep sadness and emotional gloom that fell upon the hearts of the Egyptians as they faced the disaster [ביאור יש״ר]. It also serves as a subtle preview of the disaster that would follow—the plague of darkness [קאסוטו].

Once they descended, the locusts began to consume everything that had survived the earlier plague of hail. The swarm devoured the sturdy forest and garden trees that had naturally withstood the falling ice, as well as the delicate crops like wheat and spelt that had been spared through a deliberate miracle [העמק דבר]. The destruction was complete. Although greenery typically refers to the grasses of the field, the swarm also stripped away the green leaves of the trees [רש״י, גור אריה, שפתי חכמים, ביאור יש״ר]. They did not stop at the leaves and fruits; they gnawed away the moist, green bark of the trees and dug out the roots of the grasses, leaving the plant life completely ruined [מלבי״ם].

Despite the overwhelming ruin, the Egyptians attempted to salvage some benefit from the disaster. They gathered large barrels of locusts to salt and eat, a common practice in certain regions. To counter this, when God finally ended the plague, He ensured that not a single locust remained within the borders of Egypt. This guaranteed that the Egyptians would derive absolutely no joy or practical use from the plague [מזרחי, אם למקרא].