Text -- Psalms 105:36-45 (NET)

105:36 He struck down all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of their reproductive power. 105:37 He brought his people out enriched with silver and gold; none of his tribes stumbled. 105:38 Egypt was happy when they left, for they were afraid of them. 105:39 He spread out a cloud for a cover, and provided a fire to light up the night. 105:40 They asked for food, and he sent quails; he satisfied them with food from the sky. 105:41 He opened up a rock and water flowed out; a river ran through dry regions. 105:42 Yes, he remembered the sacred promise he made to Abraham his servant. 105:43 When he led his people out, they rejoiced; his chosen ones shouted with joy. 105:44 He handed the territory of nations over to them, and they took possession of what other peoples had produced, 105:45 so that they might keep his commands and obey his laws. Praise the Lord!

Commentary -- Verse Notes / Footnotes

NET Notes: Psa 105:36

¹ tn Heb “the beginning of all their strength,” that is, reproductive power (see Ps 78:51).

sn Verses 28-36 recall the plagues in a different order than the one presented in Exodus: v. 28 (plague 9), v. 29 (plague 1), v. 30 (plague 2), v. 31a (plague 4), v. 31b (plague 3), vv. 32-33 (plague 7), vv. 34-35 (plague 8), v. 36 (plague 10). No reference is made in Ps 105 to plagues 5 and 6.

NET Notes: Psa 105:37

¹ tn Heb “them”; the referent (the Lord’s people) has been supplied in the translation for clarity.

² tn The word “enriched” is supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.

NET Notes: Psa 105:38

¹ tn Heb “for fear of them had fallen upon them.”

NET Notes: Psa 105:39

¹ tn Or “curtain.”

NET Notes: Psa 105:40

¹ tn Heb “he [i.e., his people] asked.” The singular form should probably be emended to a plural שָׁאֲלוּ (sha’alu, “they asked”), the vav (ו) having fallen off by haplography (note the vav at the beginning of the following form).

² tn Or “bread of heaven.” The reference is to manna (see Exod 16:4, 13-15).

NET Notes: Psa 105:42

¹ tn Or “for.”

² tn Heb “his holy word.”

NET Notes: Psa 105:43

¹ tn Heb “and he led his people out with joy, with a ringing cry, his chosen ones.”

NET Notes: Psa 105:44

¹ tn Heb “and the [product of the] work of peoples they possessed.”

NET Notes: Psa 105:45

¹ tn Heb “guard.”