Psalms 78:43-44

43, 44. Field of Zoan See on Psalms 78:12.

Rivers into blood This was the first plague. Exodus 7:20-21. The plural, rivers, includes the Nile with its arms and canals. Isaiah 19:6-8; Ezekiel 29:3-5; Ezekiel 29:9-10. Whether the waters were literally changed to blood, or merely into the appearance of blood, (as 2 Kings 3:22-23,) is not known, but that they were chemically changed, and had the appearance of blood, is certain, for the effect was to kill all fish and water animals, and to render the water unfit for drink or use. Exodus 7:19. It also symbolized the vengeance of God for the innocent blood of his people, (Exodus 1:0,) and rebuked the Egyptian idolatry, which paid divine honours to the Nile, and considered it identical with Osiris and the highest God.