Psalms 78:48

78:48 He rained hail down on their cattle, ¹ 

and hurled lightning bolts down on their livestock. ² 

Psalms 107:39

107:39 As for their enemies, ³  they decreased in number and were beaten down,

because of painful distress ⁴  and suffering.

Psalms 136:10

136:10 to the one who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,

for his loyal love endures,

[78:48]  ¹ tn Heb “and he turned over to the hail their cattle.”

[78:48]  ² tn Heb “and their livestock to the flames.” “Flames” here refer to the lightning bolts that accompanied the storm.

[107:39]  ³ tn The words “As for their enemies” are not included in the Hebrew text, but have been supplied in the translation for the sake of clarity. Without such clarification, one might think that v. 39 refers to those just mentioned in v. 38 as objects of divine blessing, which would contradict the point just emphasized by the psalmist. The structure of vv. 33-42 is paneled (A-B-A-B). In vv. 33-34 the psalmist describes God’s judgment upon his enemies (perhaps those who had enslaved his people). In vv. 35-38 he contrasts this judgment with the divine blessing poured out on God’s people. (See the note on the word “people” in v. 35.) In vv. 39-40 he contrasts this blessing with the judgment experienced by enemies, before returning in vv. 41-42 to the blessing experienced by God’s people.

[107:39]  ⁴ tn Heb “from the oppression of calamity.”