2. " ... The stone of darkness and the shadow of death" refers to a stumbling block, NAMELY THE SATAN, WHO IS CALLED A STUMBLING BLOCK BECAUSE the wicked stumble on it and sin. It abides in that which is called "a land of gloom, as darkness itself" (Iyov 10:22). Come and behold, There is the land of the living above, which is the land of Yisrael, NAMELY, THE NUKVA OF ZEIR ANPIN. And there is a land below called "darkness and the shadow of death," namely the darkness that is issued from the land of gloom, WHICH IS THE NUKVA OF THE KLIPAH. What are "the stone of darkness and the shadow of death?" They are the end, on the side of darkness. They are THE SATAN, the dross of gold, as we have already learned.