The writer returns to the plight of the Egyptians, cowering under the impact of the plagues. There is a certain delight in the way he dwells on their suffering, relishing the enemies of God getting their comeuppance. This is a common theme in the bits of the Apocrypha I’ve read so far. A small and persecuted people would enjoy any tales of their enemies being put to shame, wouldn’t they?
But the psychology is spot on - someone with a guilty conscience will always imagine things to be worse than they really are. I could add that the view of the world at 3am, in the middle of a sleepless night, is a lot more bleak and comfortless than at 3pm in the afternoon sunshine.
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