Psalms 78:44

44 (77-44) And he turned their rivers into blood, and their showers that they might not drink.

Psalms 78:44 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 78:44

And had turned their rivers into blood
The river Nile and its seven streams; this was the first of the plagues of Egypt, ( Exodus 7:20 Exodus 7:21 ) , and was a just retaliation for drowning the infants of the Israelites in their river, ( Exodus 1:22 ) , a like plague will be inflicted on spiritual Egypt, and with equal justice; see ( Revelation 11:8 ) ( 16:3-7 ) ,

and their floods, that they could not drink;
the rivulets that flowed from the Nile, and every spring or confluence of water; or rather by these rivers and floods are meant the canals and ditches, which, as Jarchi ^F5 observes, were made by the hands of men, from the banks of the river Nile, to water their fields with.

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FOOTNOTES:

F5 Comment. on Exod. vii. 19. so Kimchi in Sepher Shorash. rad. (ra) .

Psalms 78:44 In-Context

42 (77-42) They remembered not his hand, in the day that he redeemed them from the hand of him that afflicted them:

43 (77-43) How he wrought his signs in Egypt, and his wonders in the field of Tanis.

44 (77-44) And he turned their rivers into blood, and their showers that they might not drink.

45 (77-45) He sent amongst them divers sorts of flies, which devoured them: and frogs which destroyed them.

46 (77-46) And he gave up their fruits to the blast, and their labours to the locust.