The term "The Night of Misery" is not a direct biblical phrase but is often used to describe a period of intense suffering, trial, or divine judgment as depicted in various biblical narratives. This concept can be seen in several key events throughout the Scriptures, where darkness and night symbolize distress, divine wrath, or the testing of faith.

1. The Plague of Darkness in Egypt

One of the most prominent examples of a "night of misery" is the ninth plague that God inflicted upon Egypt, as recorded in the Book of Exodus. This plague brought a palpable darkness over the land for three days, a darkness that could be felt, symbolizing God's judgment against Pharaoh and the Egyptian gods. Exodus 10:21-23 states, "Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Stretch out your hand toward the sky so that darkness spreads over the land of Egypt—a darkness that can be felt.' So Moses stretched out his hand toward the sky, and total darkness covered all Egypt for three days. No one could see anyone else or leave his place for three days. Yet all the Israelites had light in the places where they lived."

2. The Night of Jesus' Betrayal

Another significant "night of misery" is the night of Jesus' betrayal and arrest. This event marks the beginning of His Passion, a time of great suffering leading to His crucifixion. In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus experienced profound anguish, praying earnestly as His disciples slept. Luke 22:44 describes, "And in His anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat became like drops of blood falling to the ground." This night was marked by betrayal, as Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, handed Jesus over to the authorities.

3. The Night of the Passover

The original Passover night in Egypt can also be seen as a "night of misery" for the Egyptians, as it was the night when the LORD struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt. This event led to great wailing and sorrow among the Egyptians, as described in Exodus 12:29-30 : "Now at midnight the LORD struck down every firstborn male in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and the firstborn of all the livestock as well. During the night, Pharaoh got up, he and all his officials and all the Egyptians, and there was loud wailing in Egypt, for there was no house without someone dead."

4. The Night of Jacob's Wrestling

Jacob's wrestling with the angel at Peniel is another instance of a "night of misery," where Jacob faced a divine encounter that left him physically and spiritually transformed. Genesis 32:24-26 recounts, "So Jacob was left all alone, and there a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower Jacob, he struck the socket of Jacob’s hip and dislocated it as they wrestled. Then the man said, 'Let Me go, for it is daybreak.' But Jacob replied, 'I will not let You go unless You bless me.'"

5. The Night of the Babylonian Conquest

The fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians is another historical "night of misery" for the people of Judah. The destruction of the city and the subsequent exile were seen as divine judgment for the nation's persistent idolatry and disobedience. Lamentations 2:1 captures the sorrow of this event: "How the Lord has covered the Daughter of Zion with the cloud of His anger! He has hurled down the splendor of Israel from heaven to earth; He has not remembered His footstool in the day of His anger."

These events, among others, illustrate the biblical theme of "The Night of Misery," where darkness and night serve as metaphors for divine judgment, human suffering, and the testing of faith. Each instance calls for reflection on God's sovereignty, justice, and the hope of redemption that follows periods of trial and tribulation.