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Israel Increases Greatly in Egypt
1 These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his household: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. All the descendants of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was already in Egypt. Then Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation. But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them.
Pharaoh Oppresses Israel
Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.” Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens. They built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel. So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they ruthlessly made them work as slaves.
Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, “When you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, she shall live.” But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live. So the king of Egypt called the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this, and let the male children live?” The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.” So God dealt well with the midwives. And the people multiplied and grew very strong. And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families. Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live.”
(ESV)
Exodus 1 Commentary
by Brad Boyles
The bitter labor that was given to Israel actually made them multiply and grow. In the future, when the Passover celebration would be established, the bitter herbs would come to represent the bitterness of the slave labor that was inflicted on Israel by Pharaoh.
The plot that unfolds is setting the stage for the miraculous story of Moses, who should have been killed at birth. In verse 19, the midwives give their answer as to why they have chosen not to kill baby boys. On the surface, it may seem like a lie. However, the midwives knew that despite their hard labor, God was providing strength and growth. It was supernatural and against what should have been happening. In other words, they feared God much more than they feared Pharaoh.
Their words are true. God was multiplying Israel through repetitive miraculous births. So many, in fact, that the women report that the babies were being born before they could effectively get to them. This shows both that God was at work in providing them an answer to Pharaoh, but also that
He was at work in graciously sustaining healthy children despite a midwife not being there! Because of their obedience to following and fearing Him, God blessed them. Verse 21 declares…
Since the midwives feared God, He gave them families.
Exodus 1:21 HCSB
Pharaoh, however, was about to go to ‘Plan B’ with Moses’ upcoming birth.