Psalms 136:10-20

10 Give thanks to the one who killed the firstborn males in Egypt-- because his mercy endures forever.

11 He brought Israel out from among them-- because his mercy endures forever.

12 with a mighty hand and a powerful arm-- because his mercy endures forever.

13 Give thanks to the one who divided the Red Sea-- because his mercy endures forever.

14 He led Israel through the middle of it-- because his mercy endures forever.

15 He swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea-- because his mercy endures forever.

16 Give thanks to the one who led his people through the desert-- because his mercy endures forever.

17 Give thanks to the one who defeated powerful kings-- because his mercy endures forever.

18 He killed mighty kings-- because his mercy endures forever.

19 King Sihon of the Amorites-- because his mercy endures forever.

20 and King Og of Bashan-- because his mercy endures forever.

Psalms 136:10-20 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 136

This psalm was very probably composed by David, and given to the Levites to sing every day, 1Ch 16:41. Solomon his son followed his example, and made use of them in singing at the dedication of the temple, 2Ch 7:3,6; as Jehoshaphat seems to have done when he went out to war against his enemies, 2Ch 20:21. The subject of it is much the same with the preceding psalm; its composition is very singular; the half of every verse: in it is, "for his mercy endureth for ever"; this is the burden of the song; and the design of it is to show, that all blessings of every kind flow from the grace, goodness, and mercy of God, which is constant and perpetual; and to impress a sense of it upon the minds of men: the inscription of the Syriac version is,

``it is said of Moses and Israel praising the Lord for those who were delivered; and concerning the deliverance of souls out of hell from Pharaoh, the devil, by Christ our Saviour, the Redeemer of them.''

R. Obadiah says it is an exhortation to the children of God in the days of the Messiah to praise the Lord.