The Second Book of Moses, called Exodus
Exodus 1
Chapter I · Vol. I, pp. 297–299
1 The children of Israel, after Joseph's death, multiply greatly. 8 The more they are oppressed by a new king, the more they multiply. 15 The piety of the midwives, in saving the men-children alive, is rewarded by God. 22 Pharaoh commandeth the male-children to be cast into the river.
1 NOW a these are the names of the children of Israel which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob.
A.M. 2369. B.C. 1635.
a Ge. 29.31-35; 30.1-24; 46.8-26; 49.3-27; 35.22-26. ch. 6.14-16. 1 Ch. 2.1,2; 12.23-40; 27.16-22.
2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,
3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,
4 Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
5 And all the souls that came out of the loins1 of Jacob were b seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already.2
1 Heb. thigh.
b Ge. 46.27. De. 10.22. Ac. 7.14.
2 In Ge. 46.26, 27 an analysis of the number is given. Descendants of Jacob 66, Joseph and his two sons, and Jacob himself—in all 70. It is stated that Jacob's sons' wives are not included. The same number is given in De. 10.32. It is remarkable that the Septuagint version of Genesis and Exodus makes the number 75, of whom nine are said to be children of Joseph. In Ac. 7.14 Stephen says, 'Then sent Joseph, and called his father Jacob to him, and all his kindred, threescore and fifteen souls.' Stephen may either have followed the Septuagint version, which was then commonly used in Palestine; or, which is more probable, he may have included the living wives of the patriarchs, making up the number thus—sons and grandsons 66, wives 9.—P.
7 Andd the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.
9 And he said unto his people, f Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:
10 Comeg on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so geth them up out of the land.
11 Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to i afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure-cities, Pithom and Raamses.4
i Ge. 15.13. ch. 2.11. Ps. 81.6; 68.13; 105.25. De. 26.6.
4 Pithom was situated near the northern end of the canal which connected the Red Sea with the Mediterranean. Raamses was also near the canal, but more to the south. Both cities were in Goshen, and were probably intended as fortresses to command the province.—P.
12 But the more they afflicted them, k the more they multiplied and grew. And they were l grieved because of the children of Israel.
A.M. 2369. B.C. 1635.
14 And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in mortar, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.
15 And the king of Egypt5 spake to the Hebrew midwives; (of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah;)6
5 Cir. 1588.
6 The grammatical structure of the original shows that these women were Hebrews, and not, as some suppose, Egyptians. Pharaoh had authority over them just as he had over their whole nation. Two only are mentioned. They were probably the heads of the profession.—P.
16 And 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, then ye shall n kill him;7 but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.
n Re. 12.3-5. Ps. 83.4. Mat. 21.38.
7 Shall kill him. To persons educated in the principles of Christianity, this deliberate cruelty of Pharaoh seems almost incredible. But when it is recollected that infanticide was tolerated by the laws of Solon at Athens and of Lycurgus at Sparta (and these were the two most renowned legislators of Greece), and that it is still legally practised to a vast extent in Hindostan, China, and elsewhere, this record of a decree, to us so apparently improbable, becomes an internal evidence of the truth of the Mosaic history.—C.
17 But the midwives o feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men-children alive.
18 And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, p Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men-children alive?
p 2 Sa. 13.28. Ec. 8.4.
19 And q the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them.
20 Therefore r God dealt well with the midwives: and s the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.
r He. 6.10. Ps. 41.1,2. Mat. 10.42; 25.40. Pr. 19.17.
s See ver. 7,12.
21 And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he t made them houses.4
A.M. 2416. B.C. 1588.
t 1 Sa. 2.35. 2 Sa. 7.11, 27. Ps. 127.1,3; 37.3. 1 Ki. 2.24; 11.38. Ec. 8.12.
4 The original Hebrew refers the houses or increase of families, not to the midwives, but to the Israelites. C.—'May God increase your house' is a common eastern blessing. It means grant you all prosperity. House is the usual form of expression for 'family.' This passage appears to signify that God blessed the midwives with large and prosperous families.—P.
Notes
Ver. 8. Perhaps this king pertained to a new family, which obtained the throne about a hundred years after the Hebrews went down to Egypt.—[It is known that a number of dynasties, different in race and character, ruled over Egypt. It is probable that we have here an indication of the rise of a new dynasty—strangers to the country, and ignorant of its history. If not entirely ignorant of history, the new king was at least so opposed to the policy of his predecessors, that he ignored the claims and services of the Israelites. P.]
Ver. 10. The Israelites about this time began their compliance with the Egyptian idolatry, for which God justly punished them by the hand of the Egyptians, Jos. 24. 14; Eze. 20. 7, 8; 23. 8; Ps. 105. 25.
Ver. 11. Perhaps these cities were not only intended for depositing the stores of the country, but also for protecting it from the Arabs, Philistines, and others on the north-east, or for retaining the Hebrews in their bondage.
Ver. 19. Probably, by virtue of the special assistance of God, it was really so with many of the Hebrew women.
Ver. 21. While God exceedingly multiplied the Hebrews, he increased the families and happiness of the midwives.
Reflections.—One generation quickly passes away, and another comes. Those who wax great or numerous should therefore remember their original meanness. Remarkable is the birth of God's promise when its full time comes. In two hundred and fifteen years Abraham's promised seed had increased to seventy persons: in as many more they are increased to about three millions. Services done to men are soon forgotten, but those done to God are had in everlasting remembrance. At the same time, God's kindness often sharpens men's cruelty. And to what horrid and savage barbarity their selfish designs often push them! But it is vain for devils or men to contend with the Lord. Their best-laid attempts against his designs will but promote their accomplishment: and God's church often thrives best in the fiery furnace of troubles, continued one after another. Let me, therefore always depend on God; always obey God rather than man. Never let such as are barbarous themselves make me an instrument of their cruelty; for if I hide or help God's outcasts in the day of their distress, he is not unfaithful to forget my labour of love, and may perhaps repay me in kind.