(The Lord speaking is red text)
For the Egyptians buried all [their] firstborn, which the LORD had smitten among them: upon their gods also the LORD executed judgments.
while the Egyptians were burying those among them whom ADONAI had killed, all their firstborn; ADONAI had also executed judgment on their gods.
who were burying all their firstborn, whom the LORD had struck down among them; for the LORD had executed judgment against their gods.
while the Egyptians were burying all their first-born, whom Jehovah had smitten among them: upon their gods also Jehovah executed judgments.
For the Egyptians{H4714} buried{H6912} all their firstborn{H1060}, which the LORD{H3068} had smitten{H5221} among them: upon their gods{H430} also the LORD{H3068} executed{H6213} judgments{H8201}.
1. **Themes:**
- **Divine Justice:** The verse emphasizes the theme of divine justice, where God punishes the Egyptians for their oppression of the Israelites and their idolatry.
- **The Power of God Over False Gods:** It illustrates the power and sovereignty of the God of Israel over the gods of Egypt, as He not only delivers His people but also judges the deities that the Egyptians worshiped.
- **The Final Plague:** The verse alludes to the tenth and final plague, the death of the firstborn, which was the climactic event leading to the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt.
2. **Historical Context:**
- **The Exodus:** Numbers 33:4 is set within the context of the Israelites' departure from Egypt, following a series of miraculous plagues that God inflicted upon the Egyptians to compel Pharaoh to release the Hebrew slaves.
- **The Plague of the Firstborn:** This plague was the culmination of God's judgments against Egypt. While the Israelites were spared by marking their doorposts with the blood of a lamb (Passover), the Egyptians suffered the loss of their firstborn children and animals.
- **The Defeat of Egyptian Deities:** The plagues were not only a contest of power between God and Pharaoh but also a direct challenge to the Egyptian pantheon, whose gods were believed to control various aspects of nature and life. The judgments executed upon these gods demonstrated their impotence in the face of the true God.
- **The Journey to the Promised Land:** This verse is part of a larger section in Numbers that recounts the stages of the Israelites' journey from Egypt to Canaan. It serves as a reminder of God's mighty acts and His faithfulness to His people.
In summary, Numbers 33:4 reflects on the profound impact of the final plague, highlighting the themes of divine retribution, the supremacy of the God of Israel, and the historical turning point that led to the liberation of the Israelites and their journey towards the Promised Land.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)