John Gill Commentary Psalms 78:51

"And smote all the first-born in Egypt, The chief of their strength in the tents of Ham." — Psalms 78:51 (ASV)

And smote all the firstborn in Egypt
From the prince to the peasant; and not only the firstborn of men, but of beasts also, (Exodus 12:29) ,

the chief of their strength ;
or first of it, as the firstborn is called, (Genesis 49:3) ,

in the tabernacles of Ham ;
in the several cities, towns, villages, and houses of the Egyptians, the descendants of cursed Ham; for Mizraim, from whom the Egyptians have their name, and from where they sprung, was a son of Ham's, (Genesis 10:6) . Perhaps No Ammon may be particularly meant, (Nahum 3:8) , the same with Memphis, and which signifies the mansion or palace of Ammon, that is, Ham; and so Chemmis, another city in Egypt, signifies the same ^F14 ; of which see (Psalms 105:23) this was the tenth and last plague: according to Suidas ^F15 , the plagues of Egypt continued forty days.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F14: Dickinson Delph. Phoeniciz. cap. 4.
• F15: In voce (aiguptou) .