1The children of Israel after Joseph's death multiply greatly. 8They are oppressed by a new king, but multiply so much the more. 15The piety of the midwives in saving the men children alive is rewarded by God. 22Pharaoh commandeth the male children to be cast into the river.
1NOW these are the names of the children of Israel, whicha came into Egypt; 1every man and 2his household came with Jacob.
a Gen. 46:8; Exod. 6:13.
1 Hebr. man and his household came therein.
2 That is, with his family.
2Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,
3Issachar, Zebulun, and 3Benjamin,
3Benjamin was the youngest of all the sons of Jacob; and yet he is placed here before the sons of the concubines.
4Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
5Andb4all the souls that came 5out of the loins of Jacob were 6seventy souls: for 7Joseph was in Egypt already.
b Gen. 46:27; Deut. 10:22; Acts 7:14.
4 Hebr. every soul, that is, all the persons. See Gen. 12 on verse 5.
5 See Gen. 46 on verse 26.
6 See Gen. 46 on verse 27.
7 Joseph and his two sons were indeed come forth out of Jacob, but they were in Egypt before Jacob came there.
6Andc Joseph died, and all his brethren, 8and all that generation.
c Gen. 50:26.
8 That is, all the people of that age, or time, in which Joseph and his brethren were alive yet; and thus the Hebrew word generation is taken for the time of a man’s life. See Gen. 15 on verse 16.
7¶And the children of Israel were fruitful, andd increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed 9exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.
d Deut. 26:5; Acts 7:17.
9 Hebr. mighty in much much.
8Nowe there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.
e Acts 7:18.
9And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:
10Comef on, let us deal 10wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our 11enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.
f Acts 7:19.
10 Other, let us outwit them.
11 Hebr. haters.
11Therefore they did set over them 12taskmasters to afflict them 13with their burdens. And 14they built for Pharaoh 15treasure cities, Pithom and 16Raamses.
12 That is, such as required and exacted of everyone his appointed day’s work.
13 Namely, which they had imposed upon them.
14 Other, it built, namely, the children of Israel.
15 Other, cities of ammunition.
16 This city must be distinguished from the land of Rameses, Gen. 47:11.
12But 17theg more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.
17 Hebr. even as they did oppress it, so it multiplied, and so it grew. Hebr. broke forth; see Gen. 28 on verse 14.
g Psalm 105:24.
13And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve 18with rigour:
18 Therefore Egypt is justly called a house of bondage, Exod. 20:2, and an iron furnace, Deut. 4:20.
14And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, 19wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.
19 Other, wherein they did serve under them.
15¶And the king of Egypt spake 20to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one 21was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah:
20 Other, to the midwives of the Hebrew women.
21 These two were the principal, for doubtless there were many more among such a great amount of Hebrew women.
16And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, 22then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.
22 See the reason in verses 9, 10.
17But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.
18And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive?
19And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are 23lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them.
23 Or, strong. Hebr. alive.
20Therefore God dealt 24well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.
24 Not for their lying, but for their fearing God and saving the children alive. See verse 21.
21And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he 25made them houses.
25 Or, built. Hebr. made; that is, God did so bless them, that they saw a fair posterity and offspring. This may be referred to the Israelites, or to the midwives, or to both together.
22Andh Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every 26son 27that is born ye shall cast into the river, and 28every daughter ye shall save alive.
h Acts 7:19.
26 Hebr. all son that is born.
27 Namely, by the Hebrew women.
28 Hebr. all daughter.