Why did God strike down the firstborn of Egypt in Psalm 78:51? Biblical Text “He struck all the firstborn in Egypt, the firstfruit of their vigor in the tents of Ham.” (Psalm 78:51) Historical Context: The Tenth Plague Psalm 78 recounts the Exodus. The climactic tenth plague (Exodus 11–12) came after nine escalating judgments. Pharaoh had been repeatedly warned (Exodus 4:22-23; 7:17; 9:13-14). The announced consequence—death of the firstborn—was a judicial act to compel release of Israel and to display Yahweh’s supremacy “against all the gods of Egypt” (Exodus 12:12). The Significance of the Firstborn In the ancient Near East the firstborn symbolized strength, inheritance, and representation of the family (Genesis 49:3; Deuteronomy 21:17). Yahweh had declared Israel His “firstborn son” (Exodus 4:22). By taking Egypt’s firstborn while sparing Israel’s through the blood of the lamb, God both judged the oppressor and redeemed His covenant people. Divine Justice and Covenant Faithfulness Pharaoh had ordered Israelite male infants to be drowned (Exodus 1:15-22). The tenth plague mirrored that atrocity—lex talionis on a national scale (Galatians 6:7). God’s action also fulfilled His promise to Abraham to “judge the nation they serve” (Genesis 15:14) and to bring Israel to Canaan. Confrontation with Egyptian Deities Each plague discredited specific Egyptian gods (e.g., Hapi—Nile, Heqet—frogs, Ra—sun). The firstborn judgment struck at the perceived divinity of Pharaoh himself and at Meskhenet, the goddess of childbirth, proving Yahweh alone is God (Exodus 12:12; Numbers 33:4). Progressive Warnings and Opportunity for Repentance Moses delivered at least nine prior messages. Egyptian magicians acknowledged, “This is the finger of God” (Exodus 8:19). Officials urged surrender (Exodus 10:7). The final plague came only after willful, hardened rejection (Exodus 9:34-35; Romans 9:17-18). Measure-for-Measure Retribution for Infanticide Egypt’s earlier slaughter of Hebrew infants frames God’s response. Scripture consistently applies proportional justice (Proverbs 21:13). The firstborn sentence therefore answered genocide with measured recompense, underscoring God’s protective love for the vulnerable. Passover Substitution and Christological Foreshadowing Israelite firstborn were spared only by sheltering under lamb’s blood (Exodus 12:7-13). This typifies Christ, “our Passover lamb” (1 Corinthians 5:7), whose blood delivers from eternal judgment (John 1:29; Hebrews 11:28; 1 Peter 1:18-19). Psalm 78:51 thus points forward to the greater rescue accomplished in the resurrection of Jesus (Romans 4:25). Moral and Philosophical Considerations 1. God alone is Giver and Taker of life (Job 1:21). 2. Judgment was neither impulsive nor indiscriminate; it targeted representatives of a system that enslaved, oppressed, and murdered. 3. As Creator, God’s holiness demands justice; His mercy provides substitutionary atonement. Modern behavioral studies confirm that unchecked injustice entrenches oppression; decisive intervention is sometimes the only liberating remedy. Archaeological and Historical Corroboration • The Brooklyn Papyrus 35.1446 (13th cent. BC) lists Semitic household slaves in Egypt, matching the biblical picture of Israelite servitude. • The Ipuwer Papyrus (Leiden 344) laments, “plague is throughout the land… the river is blood,” echoing several plagues. • A Middle Kingdom mass-burial of juveniles at Abydos aligns with a sudden mortality event among children. • The Merneptah Stele (~1208 BC) records “Israel is laid waste,” confirming Israel’s presence in Canaan soon after the Exodus window. • Tel-el-Dabaʿ/Avaris excavations reveal Asiatic (Semitic) quarters abruptly abandoned, consistent with a mass departure. These finds bolster the historicity of the Exodus and thus the event Psalm 78:51 reflects. Implications for Salvation History and Christian Life Psalm 78 intends to teach succeeding generations to trust, obey, and hope in God (Psalm 78:6-7). The firstborn judgment displays God’s power to redeem and His intolerance of idolatry and oppression. It calls believers to proclaim the greater Passover—Christ—and invites unbelievers to receive the same mercy before the final judgment (Acts 17:30-31). Conclusion God struck the firstborn of Egypt to execute righteous judgment, demonstrate His unrivaled supremacy, answer Egypt’s prior crimes, fulfill covenant promises, and prefigure the redemptive work of the true Firstborn, Jesus Christ. Far from an arbitrary act, it was a calibrated, prophetic, and ultimately merciful intervention that continues to testify to the holiness, justice, and saving grace of Yahweh. |
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