Psalms 78:44-51
The miracles mentioned in this and the four subsequent verses, evidently shew the power of God over the elements of nature, which at that time were the objects of Egyptian worship.
sent <07971> [sent.]
frogs <06854> [frogs.]
gave ... crops <05414 02981> [gave also.]
[the caterpillar.]
{Chosal,} from {chasal,} to consume, eat up, is rendered [\~broucov\~, brouchos] by the LXX., in 2 Ch 6:28, and Aquila here, and also the Vulgate in Chron. and Isa 33:4 and Jerome here, {bruchus,} the chaffer, which every one knows to be a great devourer of the leaves of trees. The Syriac in Joel 1:4; 2:25, renders it {tzartzooro,} which Michaelis, from the Arabic {tzartzar,} a cricket, interprets the mole-cricket, which in its grub state is also very destructive to corn, grass, and other vegetables, by cankering the roots on which it feeds.
destroyed <02026> [destroyed. or, killed. with hail.]
[sycamore.]
From the value of the sycamore in furnishing wood for various uses, from the grateful shade which its wide spreading branches afforded, and on account of the fruit, which Mr. Maillet says the Egyptians hold in the highest estimation, we may conceive somewhat of the loss they sustained when "their vines were destroyed with hail; and their sycamore trees with frost." See Note on 1 Ch 27:28.
driving rain <02602> [frost. or, great hailstones.]
rained ... down <05462> [gave up. Heb. shut up. hot thunderbolts. or, lightnings.]
sent <07971> [cast.]
lashed out <04917> [by sending.]
sent <06424> [made away. Heb. weighed a path. he spared.]
lives over ... destruction <05462 01698 02416> [life over to the pestilence. or, beasts to the murrain.]
struck <05221> [smote.]
firstfruits <07225> [the chief.]
tents <0168> [tabernacles.]
