מיכה, פרק ג׳, פסוק ו׳

False spiritual leaders face a severe reckoning, marked by absolute darkness and heavy disaster. This impending ruin is a direct result of their own deceptive actions. When the enemy arrives and exposes the emptiness of their words, these leaders will be overwhelmed by such intense distress that the entire world will appear completely dark to them.

The punishment is carefully tailored to three distinct groups of false leaders, striking each one with a fitting, measure for measure consequence [מלבי״ם]. First are the seers, who typically rely on the night to receive their visions. Instead of the night offering them prophecy, their false visions will plunge them into a night of profound distress. Second are the sorcerers, who prefer to practice their magic in hidden, dark places. Rather than drawing power from the shadows, their witchcraft will bring down a darkness of disaster upon them. This darkness will be so oppressive that they will be entirely unable to perform their magic at night [אבן עזרא]. Finally, there are the false prophets, who confidently share their messages in broad daylight. For them, the sun will simply set, leaving them to sink into ruin.

The ultimate consequence for these leaders reaches its peak when the day itself turns black. Even in the middle of the afternoon, while the sun is still high in the sky, all light will vanish for them. This unnatural darkness symbolizes a sudden, premature disaster striking without warning [מלבי״ם]. It will be a day consumed by heavy clouds and thick fog, bringing about their total downfall [אבן עזרא]. The repeated images of fading light and gathering shadows serve a specific purpose, emphasizing the extreme severity of the distress and calamity destined to fall upon the false prophets.