Blindness. Blindness is extremely common in the East, from many causes. Blind beggars figure repeatedly, in the New Testament, Matthew 12:22, and "opening the eyes of the blind" is mentioned in prophecy, as a peculiar attribute of the Messiah. Isaiah 29:18; Isaiah 42:7, etc.
The Jews were specially charged to treat the blind with compassion and care. Leviticus 19:14; Deuteronomy 27:18. Blindness willfully inflicted for political or other purposes is alluded to in Scripture. 1 Samuel 11:2; Jeremiah 39:7.