51 And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham:
51 He struck down all the firstborn of Egypt, the firstfruits of manhood in the tents of Ham.
51 He struck down every firstborn in Egypt, the firstfruits of their strength in the tents of Ham.
51 He killed all the Egyptian firstborns, lusty infants, offspring of Ham's virility.
51 And destroyed all the firstborn in Egypt, The first of their strength in the tents of Ham.
51 He killed the oldest son in each Egyptian family, the flower of youth throughout the land of Egypt.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 78:51
Commentary on Psalm 78:40-55.
(Read Psalm 78:40-55.)
Let not those that receive mercy from God, be thereby made bold to sin, for the mercies they receive will hasten its punishment; yet let not those who are under Divine rebukes for sin, be discouraged from repentance. The Holy One of Israel will do what is most for his own glory, and what is most for their good. Their forgetting former favours, led them to limit God for the future. God made his own people to go forth like sheep; and guided them in the wilderness, as a shepherd his flock, with all care and tenderness. Thus the true Joshua, even Jesus, brings his church out of the wilderness; but no earthly Canaan, no worldly advantages, should make us forget that the church is in the wilderness while in this world, and that there remaineth a far more glorious rest for the people of God.