Psalms 136:10-20

10 Give thanks to the One who killed the oldest son of each family in Egypt. "His faithful love continues forever."
11 He brought the people of Israel out of Egypt. "His faithful love continues forever."
12 He did it by reaching out his mighty hand and powerful arm. "His faithful love continues forever."
13 Give thanks to the One who parted the Red Sea. "His faithful love continues forever."
14 He brought Israel through the middle of it. "His faithful love continues forever."
15 But he swept Pharaoh and his army into the Red Sea. "His faithful love continues forever."
16 Give thanks to the One who led his people through the desert. "His faithful love continues forever."
17 He killed great kings. "His faithful love continues forever."
18 He struck down mighty kings. "His faithful love continues forever."
19 He killed Sihon, the king of the Amorites. "His faithful love continues forever."
20 He killed Og, the king of Bashan. "His faithful love continues 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.

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