“Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast.”
He it is who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, both of humans and of animals. This verse invokes the plague narrative of Exodus, wherein God demonstrated His power through catastrophic judgment against Pharaoh and redemptive deliverance for Israel. The selective reference to the death of the firstborn (rather than the ten plagues generally) highlights the climactic, decisive divine action that forced Pharaoh's hand. The parallelism of humans and animals emphasizes that divine judgment spared nothing; even livestock fell victim to demonstrate God's power. This verse grounds Israel's praise in historical memory of God's mighty acts on their behalf; covenant theology rests on the foundation of the Exodus narrative. The inclusion of this historical reference transforms the psalm from abstract theology into concrete commemoration of what God has done.
Church Fathers on Psalms 135:8
1. Very pleasant ought it be to us, and we should rejoice because it is pleasant, to which this Psalm exhorts us. For it says, “Praise the name of the Lord” Psalm 134:1. And it immediately appends the reason, why it is just to praise the name of the Lord. “Praise the Lord, you servants.” What more just? What more worthy? What more thankful?...For if He teaches His own servants who have deserved well of Him, the preachers of His Word, the rulers of His Church, the worshippers…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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