“Who sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants.”
He sent signs and wonders into your midst, O Egypt, against Pharaoh and all his servants. This verse extends the Exodus narrative, explicitly framing the plagues as signs and wonders (אתות ומופתים) designed to demonstrate God's power to both Israel and Egypt. The phrase into your midst addresses Egypt directly, suggesting that the plagues were performed in Egypt's territory and involved Egyptian people. The parallelism of Pharaoh and all his servants suggests that resistance was systematic—the entire Egyptian power structure opposed Israel's liberation. The designation as signs indicates that the plagues were not merely destructive events but communicative acts; they signaled God's will and power. This verse emphasizes the performative dimension of God's acts—they speak, they teach, they demonstrate divine authority to all observers.
Church Fathers on Psalms 135:9
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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