Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 135:8
Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast.
8 12. Jehovah’s sovereignty exhibited in the deliverance of His people from Egypt and their establishment in the land of Canaan.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Who smote the firstborn of Egypt – As the last and the greatest of the plagues brought upon the Egyptians; the chief and crowning judgment under which they were made willing that the children of Israel should go, and which was in fact the judgment which secured their freedom. This is selected here evidently for this reason, instead of recounting all the plagues which were brought upon the Egyptians.
Both of man and beast – Exo 11:5. Margin, as in Hebrew, From man unto beast. That is, including both; smiting both.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Verse 8. Who smote the first-born of Egypt] See the parallel passages.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
From the general works of nature, he comes to Gods special works of providence towards his people.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
8, 9. The last plague [Ex12:29] is cited to illustrate His “tokens and wonders.”
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast. Which was the last of the plagues inflicted on the Egyptians; and is particularly mentioned, because, by means of it, they were made willing to let the children of Israel go out of their land: and so this includes the deliverance of the Israelites, God’s firstborn, when he slew the firstborn of Egypt; and who were typical of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven; and the deliverance of them, through the blood of the passover, was an emblem of the deliverance of those by the blood of Christ; see Ex 12:22.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Worthy is He to be praised, for He is the Redeemer out of Egypt. as in Psa 116:19, cf. Psa 105:27.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
8. He smote the first-born of Egypt He now reverts to those more special benefits, by which God had laid his Church and chosen people under obligation to his service. As it was the Lord’s believing people only whom he addressed, the chief point singled out as the subject of praise is God’s having adopted them, small as they were in numbers, from the mass of the human family. Again, there was the fact of his having set himself in opposition, for their sakes, to great kingdoms and mighty nations. The wonderful works done by God in Egypt and in Canaan were all just so many proofs of that fatherly love which he entertained for them as his chosen people. It is not strictly according to historic order to begin with mentioning the destruction of the first-born of Egypt; but this is instanced as a memorable illustration of the great regard God had for the safety of his people, which was such that he would not spare even so mighty and wealthy a nation. The scope of the passage is to show that God, in delivering his people, had abundantly testified his power and his mercy.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(8) Egypt.This abrupt change from the miracles of nature to the marvels of history is apparently copied from the next psalm, where see Note, Psa. 135:10.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
8, 9. These verses present an illustration of the greatness and majesty of God (see Psa 135:5) in the redemption of his people from Egypt. See notes on Psa 78:43-53; Psa 105:26-38.
Smote the firstborn Only the last of the ten plagues, as being the most terrible, is specified.
Both of man and beast Hebrew, from man to beast all grades of living creatures.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
In these verses the Writer adores the riches of God’s grace, as instanced in the history of Israel.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 135:8 Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast.
Ver. 8. Who smote the firstborn of Egypt ] And thereby roused up that sturdy rebel Pharaoh, who began now to open his eyes, as they say the blind mole doth when the pangs of death are upon him; and to stretch out himself, as the crooked serpent doth when deadly wounded.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psa 135:8-18
8He smote the firstborn of Egypt,
Both of man and beast.
9He sent signs and wonders into your midst, O Egypt,
Upon Pharaoh and all his servants.
10He smote many nations
And slew mighty kings,
11Sihon, king of the Amorites,
And Og, king of Bashan,
And all the kingdoms of Canaan;
12And He gave their land as a heritage,
A heritage to Israel His people.
13Your name, O Lord, is everlasting,
Your remembrance, O Lord, throughout all generations.
14For the Lord will judge His people
And will have compassion on His servants.
15The idols of the nations are but silver and gold,
The work of man’s hands.
16They have mouths, but they do not speak;
They have eyes, but they do not see;
17They have ears, but they do not hear,
Nor is there any breath at all in their mouths.
18Those who make them will be like them,
Yes, everyone who trusts in them.
Psa 135:8 He smote This verb (BDB 645, KB 697, Hiphil perfect) denotes a complete destruction sent and accomplished by God.
1. Psa 135:8 – YHWH’s promised deliverance from Egypt (cf. Gen 15:12-15; Exo 3:20; Exo 7:25; Exo 9:15; Exo 12:13; Psa 87:4; Isa 30:7)
2. Psa 135:10 – YHWH’s defeat of the nations of Canaan (cf. Gen 15:16-21)
Psa 135:13 everlasting See Special Topic: Forever (‘olam). This may be a play on the root meaning of YHWH from the Hebrew verb to be. See Special Topic: Names for Deity.
NASBYour remembrance
NKJV, JPSOAYour fame
NRSV, REB,
LXXYour renown
NJBYour memory
The Hebrew noun (BDB 271) means remembrance or memorial.
1. human’s memory – Pro 10:7; Ecc 9:5
2. Israel – Hos 14:7
3. YHWH – Exo 3:15; Psa 6:6; Psa 30:4; Psa 97:12; Psa 102:12; Isa 26:8; Hos 12:5
Psa 135:18 Those who make the idols and then worship them will be like them.
1. cannot speak
2. cannot see
3. cannot hear
4. cannot breathe
They are lifeless imaginations of fallen, false human hearts and hands. Idols cannot help or know, so too, the worshipers!
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
smote, &c. Compare Exo 12:29.
man. Hebrew. ‘adam. App-14.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Psa 135:8-11
Psa 135:8-11
V.
GOD THE TERRIBLE TO ENEMIES OF ISRAEL
“Who smote the first-born of Egypt,
Both of man and beast;
Who sent signs and wonders into the midst of them, O Egypt,
Upon Pharaoh and upon all his servants;
Who smote many nations, and slew mighty kings,
Sihon king of the Amorites,
And Og king of Bashan,
And all the kingdoms of Canaan.”
Beginning all the way back in Psa 135:6 and running through Psa 135:12 we have one long sentence, which we have broken up for purposes of this study. Kidner tells us that, “Practically every phrase in Psa 135:8 through Psa 135:12 is repeated word for word in the next psalm, Psa 136:10; Psa 136:18-22).
Delitzsch called the message of these verses, “God is worthy to be praised as the Conqueror of the Land of Promise.
The purpose of this paragraph is the presentation of the fifth argument calling for the praise of God. This is a brief reference to the long history of Israel, in which God had repeatedly destroyed their enemies: (1) The tenth plague against Egypt in the death of the first-born of both man and beast (Psa 135:8); (2) all of the other nine plagues, called here, “signs and wonders” (Psa 135:9); (3) the smiting of many nations (Psa 135:10); (4) the slaying of mighty kings (Psa 135:10); (5) particularly Sihon; and (6) Og (Psa 135:11); and (7) All the kingdoms of Canaan (Psa 135:11) – these are the seven events mentioned in this paragraph.
In my commentaries on the Pentateuch, and Joshua, we have written full discussions of all of the events mentioned here; and we shall be content with referring to those writings for any persons who may be interested in exploring them more fully. By no means all of God’s wonderful deliverances of Israel by the destruction of their enemies are mentioned here; but these seven examples are cited as typical of the total number. One of the most wonderful examples of God’s destroying Israel’s enemies is that of the death of Sennacherib’s army before the very walls of Jerusalem.
All such deliverances are brought to mind by the psalmist here for the purpose of eliciting praise of God from the hearts of grateful Israelites. Throughout the ages, every child of God will find many events in his life for which there is always due unceasing praise of God.
E.M. Zerr:
Psa 135:8. This verse is a simple historical statement of an instance of the Lord’s power. The original account is in Exodus 12, and nothing but a miracle could cause such an event to occur. A man might slay a few children in the course of several nights before he would be stopped. But the wonderful feature of this great circumstance is the fact that not in one or a few families was there a death, but one in each house. Neither was it upon whichever member of the household who happened to be available, but upon a certain one, the oldest of the family. Nor was the work spread out over a long period of time, but was accomplished in one night.
Psa 135:9. The death of the first-born was the last of the 10 plagues sent upon the Egyptians. This verse refers to the 9 that preceded this one.
Psa 135:10. After the Israelites left Egypt they started for the “promised land” that had been guaranteed to their forefathers. On the way they encountered the heathen nations who disputed their right to march through their territories, and it was necessary to overcome them which they did with the Lord’s help.
Psa 135:11. The conflicts with Sihon and Og are recorded in Numbers 21. The kingdoms of Canaan were conquered by Joshua as recorded in the book bearing his name.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
smote: Psa 78:51, Psa 105:36, Psa 136:10, Exo 12:12, Exo 12:29, Exo 12:30, Exo 13:15
both of man and beast: Heb. from man unto beast
Reciprocal: Exo 3:20 – smite Exo 4:23 – General Exo 11:5 – the firstborn Num 8:17 – on the day Deu 7:18 – remember Jos 24:5 – plagued Neh 9:10 – showedst Psa 94:10 – chastiseth Psa 105:27 – They Hab 3:6 – and drove Act 7:7 – the nation Act 7:36 – after Act 13:17 – and with
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 135:8. Who smote the firstborn of Egypt From the general works of nature he comes to Gods special works of providence toward his people. Egypt was the theatre of the grand contest between the God of Israel and the gods of the heathen. The superiority of the former over the latter was shown in every possible way, by the miracles of Moses, which demonstrated all the powers of nature, to be under the dominion of Jehovah, and to act at his command, so that, instead of being able to protect, they were made to torment and destroy their deluded votaries.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
God’s sovereignty is also clear from His control over Israel’s history. He sent the plagues on Egypt, even smiting Pharaoh’s first-born. He also defeated many kings and subdued many nations to give Israel the Promised Land. Notable among these kings were Sihon and Og (Numbers 21).