Psalm 78:51

51 And struck all the bechor in Mitzrayim; the reshit (first fruit) of their strength in the ohalim of Cham;

Psalm 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) .

Psalm 78:51 In-Context

49 He cast upon them His charon af, evrah (wrath), and za’am (indignation), and tzarah, by sending malachim ra’im among them.

50 He made a way for His anger; He spared not their nefesh from mavet (death), but gave their beasts over to the dever (plague);

51 And struck all the bechor in Mitzrayim; the reshit (first fruit) of their strength in the ohalim of Cham;

52 But made His own people to go forth like tzon, and guided them in the midbar like an eder (flock).

53 And He led them in safety, so that they had no terror; but the yam overwhelmed their oyevim.