Psalms 78:51

51 And he struck down all [the] firstborn in Egypt, [the] first of [their] virility in the tents of Ham.

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 sent against them his fierce anger, rage and indignation and trouble, a band of {destroying} angels.

50 He cleared a path for his anger. He did not spare them from death but handed their life over to the plague.

51 And he struck down all [the] firstborn in Egypt, [the] first of [their] virility in the tents of Ham.

52 Then he led out his people like sheep and guided them like a herd in the wilderness.

53 And he led them safely and they were not afraid, but the sea covered their enemies.