Psalms 78:47
He destroyed their vines with hail and their sycamores with frost.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Psalms 78:47
He destroyed their vines with hail and their sycamores with frost.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
The psalmist highlights the destruction of both vines with hail and sycamore trees with frost. This pairing is significant because it points to God’s specific, targeted judgment, affecting not just the common fruit-bearing trees but also the "wild fig trees," which were known for their abundant fruit and the wood they provided, showing the comprehensive and deeply impactful nature of His action against Egypt.
This psalm retells Israel's history, emphasizing God's mighty acts in Egypt and their recurring unfaithfulness. The psalmist groups together various plagues God sent upon Egypt as a powerful reminder of His judgment, contrasting these with His deliverance of Israel, serving as a lesson for future generations. The text then moves to describe God's provision and Israel's repeated rebellion during their wilderness journey, leading into the subsequent cycle of their history in the promised land.
Did you know that even the weather can be a tool in God's hand? This psalm reminds us that the natural world isn't always as predictable or gentle as we might think.
Psalm 78 recounts God's mighty acts for Israel, highlighting His judgments against Egypt. This verse specifically mentions hail destroying vines and frost damaging sycamore trees.
A World Under God's Authority
What's striking here is that the 'natural' forces of hail and frost are depicted as instruments of God's judgment. The commentators note that these events were devastating to Egypt's economy and sustenance, as vines provided grapes for wine and sycamore trees offered fruit and wood.
This isn't just about ancient history; it's a profound theological statement. It reveals that God is not distant from His creation but is actively involved, even using the elements to bring about His purposes. The disruption of the natural order served as a powerful sign of God's sovereignty and His displeasure with those who defied Him.
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Losing your crops might seem like a simple inconvenience, but in ancient times, it could mean widespread suffering and even famine. This verse offers a glimpse into that reality.
The specific mention of vines and sycamore trees in Psalm 78:47 isn't accidental. These were vital resources for the Egyptians.
More Than Just Plants
The commentators emphasize how the destruction of these specific crops and trees would have caused immense distress. It wasn't just a random act of nature; it was a targeted blow at the very livelihood of the Egyptian people. This highlights how God's judgments can have far-reaching consequences, impacting not just individuals but the entire social and economic fabric of a nation.
Psalm 78 recounts Israel's history, emphasizing God's mighty acts and Israel's persistent unfaithfulness. The mention of hail destroying vines and sycamore trees specifically recalls the devastating plague in Egypt, highlighting God's power and judgment against the oppressors.
c. 1440 BC
Israel Enslaved in Egypt
The Israelites, descendants of Jacob, had multiplied in Egypt and were eventually subjected to harsh slavery by a new dynasty that feared their growing population.
c. 1440-1430 BC
The Ten Plagues of Egypt
God sent ten devastating plagues upon Egypt to force Pharaoh to release the Israelites. These plagues included hail, frogs, locusts, and other calamities that severely impacted the land and its people.
c. 1440 BC— this verse
Plague of Hail Strikes Egypt
A severe hailstorm, accompanied by fire and lightning, ravaged the Egyptian countryside, destroying crops and trees, including vines and sycamore trees, while sparing the Israelites.
c. 1440 BC
The Exodus from Egypt
Following the tenth plague (the death of the firstborn), Pharaoh finally relented and allowed the Israelites to leave Egypt after 430 years of their sojourn.
c. 1440-1400 BC
Wandering in the Wilderness
The Israelites spent forty years wandering in the Sinai desert, experiencing God's provision and judgment as they journeyed toward the Promised Land.
c. 1000 BC - 586 BC
Period of the Judges and Divided Monarchy
After entering the Promised Land, Israel experienced cycles of faithfulness and unfaithfulness, leading to periods of oppression and divine discipline. This period also saw the division of the kingdom into Israel (North) and Judah (South).
c. 950 BC
Composition of Psalm 78
This psalm, likely composed during or after the period of the divided monarchy, serves as a didactic poem reflecting on Israel's history from the Exodus to the establishment of David's reign.
This passage directly describes the plague of hail in Egypt, which is the event alluded to in Psalm 78:47, detailing its destructive force on vegetation and trees.
Psalm 105:33This verse, like Psalm 78:47, recounts God's plagues upon Egypt, specifically mentioning the destruction of trees by hail and frost, reinforcing the severity of God's judgment.
Revelation 16:21This prophetic passage describes a future 'great hail' weighing about a hundred pounds, echoing the destructive power of hail unleashed by God in the past as seen in Psalm 78:47 and the plagues of Egypt.
Job 38:22-23Here, God challenges Job's understanding of His dominion over natural elements like snow, hail, rain, and thunder, highlighting that these forces are under His command, just as He used hail and frost against Egypt in Psalm 78:47.
poolePsalms 78:47: "He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycomore trees with frost."
Sycomore trees; or, wild fig trees , which were there in great plenty. Under these and the vines all other trees are comprehended. And this hail and frost did destroy the fruits of the trees, and sometimes the trees themselves.
clarkePsalms 78:47: "He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycomore trees with frost."
He destroyed their vines with hail - Though the vine was never plentiful in Egypt, yet they have some; and the wine made in that country is among the most delicious. The leaf of the vine is often used by the Egyptians of the present day for wrapping up their mince-meat, which they lay leaf upon leaf, season it after their fashion, and so cook it, making it a most exquisite sort of food, according to Mr. Mai…
The psalmist highlights the destruction of both vines with hail and sycamore trees with frost. This pairing is significant because it points to God’s specific, targeted judgment, affecting not just the common fruit-bearing trees but also the "wild fig trees," which were known for their abundant fruit and the wood they provided, showing the comprehensive and deeply impactful nature of His action against Egypt.
This psalm retells Israel's history, emphasizing God's mighty acts in Egypt and their recurring unfaithfulness. The psalmist groups together various plagues God sent upon Egypt as a powerful reminder of His judgment, contrasting these with His deliverance of Israel, serving as a lesson for future generations. The text then moves to describe God's provision and Israel's repeated rebellion during their wilderness journey, leading into the subsequent cycle of their history in the promised land.
This psalm retells Israel's history, emphasizing God's mighty acts in Egypt and their recurring unfaithfulness. The psalmist groups together various plagues God sent upon Egypt as a powerful reminder of His judgment, contrasting these with His deliverance of Israel, serving as a lesson for future generations. The text then moves to describe God's provision and Israel's repeated rebellion during their wilderness journey, leading into the subsequent cycle of their history in the promised land.
"He destroyed their vines with hail and their sycamores with frost." — The psalmist highlights the destruction of both vines with hail and sycamore trees with frost. This pairing is significant because it points to God’s specific, targeted judgment, affecting not just t…
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