יואל, פרק ד׳, פסוק ט״ו

On the great day of judgment, the global upheaval extends far beyond the earth, echoing into the highest heavens as the celestial bodies lose their glow. At the most basic level, the sun, moon, and stars will simply stop shining, plunging the world into complete darkness on the day of God [שטיינזלץ].

However, this profound darkness may not be a physical change in the solar system, but rather a reflection of the human experience. Those facing punishment will be overcome by such immense distress and terror that it will feel to them as if the heavens have turned black and the entire world has gone dark [מצודת דוד, רד"ק, אבן עזרא].

On a deeper level, the fading of the celestial lights represents the suspension of natural laws. The heavenly bodies, which typically govern the natural order and guide the success of nations, will cease to function and will no longer offer any protection. The end of their normal cycles symbolizes the collapse of natural governance, as absolute and direct control of the world is transferred entirely to God [מלבי"ם, אברבנאל].

Furthermore, this cosmic event can be understood as a political metaphor. The sun, moon, and stars represent the kings of the nations and the world's great superpowers. Their sudden darkening and loss of light serve as a symbol for the collapse of empires and the ultimate fall of human leaders on the day of judgment [אברבנאל].