Charles Ellicott Commentary Psalms 78:47

"He destroyed their vines with hail, And their sycomore-trees with frost." — Psalms 78:47 (ASV)

Vines. In the history of the plagues (Exodus 9:13–25), no mention is made of vines, sycamores, or fig trees, as in Psalms 105:33. Some consider that the poem reflects a Palestinian rather than an Egyptian point of view. But besides Numbers 20:5 and Joseph’s dream, there is abundant evidence of the extensive cultivation of the vine in Egypt. The mural paintings contain many representations of vineyards. Wine stood prominent among the offerings to the gods, and a note on a papyrus of Rameses II speaks of rations of wine made to workmen.

Sycamore. See 1 Kings 10:27.

Frost. The Hebrew word is peculiar to this place. The Septuagint and Vulgate have “hoar-frost,” Aquila “ice,” Symmachus “worm.” The root of the word appears to mean to cut off, so that by derivation any devastating force would suit the word.