Psalms 78:51

51 He killed the oldest son in each Egyptian family, the flower of youth throughout the land of Egypt.

Psalms 78:51 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 78:51

And smote all the firstborn in Egypt
From the prince to the peasant; and not only the firstborn of men, but of beasts also, ( Exodus 12:29 ) ,

the chief of their strength;
or first of it, as the firstborn is called, ( Genesis 49:3 ) ,

in the tabernacles of Ham;
in the several cities, towns, villages, and houses of the Egyptians, the descendants of cursed Ham; for Mizraim, from whom the Egyptians have their name, and from whence they sprung, was a son of Ham's, ( Genesis 10:6 ) . Perhaps No Ammon may be particularly meant, ( Nahum 3:8 ) , the same with Memphis, and which signifies the mansion or palace of Ammon, that is, Ham; and so Chemmis, another city in Egypt, signifies the same ^F14; of which see ( Psalms 105:23 ) this was the tenth and last plague: according to Suidas ^F15, the plagues of Egypt continued forty days.

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FOOTNOTES:

F14 Dickinson Delph. Phoeniciz. cap. 4.
F15 In voce (aiguptou) .

Psalms 78:51 In-Context

49 He loosed on them his fierce anger— all his fury, rage, and hostility. He dispatched against them a band of destroying angels.

50 He turned his anger against them; he did not spare the Egyptians’ lives but ravaged them with the plague.

51 He killed the oldest son in each Egyptian family, the flower of youth throughout the land of Egypt.

52 But he led his own people like a flock of sheep, guiding them safely through the wilderness.

53 He kept them safe so they were not afraid; but the sea covered their enemies.

Footnotes

• [a]. Hebrew in the tents of Ham.