In Revelation 9:2, 'the sun and the air' here signify the light of truth, because 'the sun' signifies love, and the light divine truth. This is why when it says 'the sun and air were darkened,' it signifies divine truth becoming thick darkness. This darkening coming from 'the smoke of the pit' -- meaning that it was caused by falsities accompanying lust.

(Odkazy: Apocalypse Explained 9 [2]; Apocalypse Revealed 423)

8589. 'Because of the wrangling of the children of Israel' means complaining on account of the bitterness of the temptation, so severe that they were close to giving in. This is clear from the meaning of 'the wrangling' as bitter complaining, dealt with in 8563. The fact that their being close to giving in is meant is clear from the nature of their wrangling; that is to say, it was such that they were on the verge of stoning Moses, they were tempting Jehovah, and they were saying, Is Jehovah in the midst of us?