Psalms 136:10

“To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn, etc.] In a tender part, in the dear part of themselves, in their sons and heirs, and who were to inherit their lands and estates, and perpetuate their names; this was an act of justice for using ill the Lord’s firstborn, the people of Israel, slaying their sons, and refusing to let them go, (<020113>Exodus 1:13,14,16,22 4:22,23); and yet there was mercy in it, for which thanks were to be given to God; for his mercy [endureth] for ever; the Israelites, in a very merciful manner, were distinguished by the blood sprinkled on their door posts, when the destroying angel passed through the land of Egypt to destroy their firstborn; and when they were…”

“To him that smote Egypt in their first-born - Exodus 12:29. That is, he struck them down, or destroyed them, by his own direct power. For his mercy ... - It was in mercy to his people. It was the means of their deliverance from bondage, for the Egyptians would not otherwise have suffered them to depart. By all the results of their deliverance both to themselves and to mankind, the act was seen to be an act of mercy to the world. It was better for mankind that the Hebrews should be delivered even at this sacrifice than it would have been that they should not be brought into the promised land. return to 'Top of Page'”

“136:10-22 The psalmist recounts the early history of Israel’s redemption.”

“Psa 78:51, Psa 105:36, Psa 135:8; Exo 11:5, Exo 11:6, Exo 12:12, Exo 12:29; Heb 11:28 Psalms 136:11”

“Up to this point it is God the absolute in general, the Creator of all things, to the celebration of whose praise they are summoned; and from this point onwards the God of the history of salvation. In Psa 136:13 גּזר (instead of בּקע, Psa 78:13; Exo 14:21; Neh 9:11) of the dividing of the Red Sea is peculiar; גּזרים ( Gen 15:17, side by side with בּתרים) are the pieces or parts of a thing that is cut up into pieces. נער is a favourite word taken from Exo 14:27. With reference to the name of the Egyptian ruler Pharaoh (Herodotus also, ii. 111, calls the Pharaoh of the Exodus the son of Sesostris-Rameses Miumun, not Μενόφθας, as he is properly called, but absolutely Φερῶν), vid., on Psa…”