משלי, פרק ז׳, פסוק ט׳

Time and darkness often serve as more than just a physical backdrop; they can reflect a gradual moral decline and a deliberate attempt to hide. A young man lacking understanding actively seeks the cover of the night to conceal his behavior from the eyes of others [מצודת דוד, אמרי דעת].

The passing hours outline a chronological progression of his descent. The journey begins at twilight. Because the original term for this hour can refer to either the darkness of dusk or dawn [מצודת ציון], additional phrasing clarifies that this is the early evening [מלבי״ם]. Alternatively, this repetition is simply a poetic way to emphasize the gathering shadows [מצודת דוד]. At this early stage of the evening, the young man separates from his friends and sets off on his path [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. It is a time when people are still visible walking through the streets [אלשיך].

As time goes on and he walks closer toward sin, he enters a second, deeper phase of the night. This is the absolute blackness of the late hours [מצודת ציון]. Under this total cover, where no one can see him and his desires burn intensely, the forbidden acts are finally committed [אלשיך].

Beyond the practical reality of a wrongdoer waiting for nightfall, the multiple references to the dark carry a deeper metaphorical weight. They represent the general path of those who lack wisdom and moral grounding. Such individuals are drawn to physical desires and actively choose the shadows to carry out their deeds. This behavior stands in sharp contrast to people of wisdom, whose actions and life paths are always compared to the light [אמרי דעת].