Exodus1

Exodus 1 begins by listing Jacob's descendants who came into Egypt, noting their rapid multiplication after Joseph's death. A new Pharaoh, unaware of Joseph, feared their growing numbers and oppressed them with harsh labor. When this failed to curb their growth, he commanded Hebrew midwives to kill all male infants, but they defied him, leading Pharaoh to order all male babies cast into the river.
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The Children of Israel Settle and Grow

1
Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob. ​
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 loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already. ​
6
And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation.
7
And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. ​

The Egyptians Oppress Israel

8
Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. ​
9
And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:
10
Come 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 get them up out of the land.
11
Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. ​
12
But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel. ​
13
And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour:
14
And 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, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.

Pharaoh Attempts Genocide

15
And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah: ​
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 kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live. ​
17
But the midwives 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, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive?
19
And 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 God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.
21
And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses. ​
22
And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive. ​

Study Notes for Exodus 1

Verse 1

This verse transitions the narrative from Genesis, establishing the foundational group (Jacob's household) that grew into the nation of Israel during the 400 years in Egypt.

Verse 5

The total number of 70 souls symbolizes completeness and marks the official beginning of the sojourn in Egypt, fulfilling the promise made to Jacob (Gen. 46:27).

Verse 7

The emphasis on Israel's rapid multiplication ('fruitful, increased, multiplied, waxed mighty') stresses the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant (Gen. 12:2; 17:6) and sets the stage for the conflict.

Verse 8

The phrase 'knew not Joseph' signifies not just historical ignorance, but a deliberate political choice by the new dynasty to disregard the debt owed to Joseph, justifying new policies of oppression.

Verse 11

The construction of Pithom and Raamses, likely storage or garrison cities, confirms the use of Israelite forced labor and provides a historical anchor for the setting of the oppression.

Verse 12

This reversal highlights a key theological theme: divine blessing overcomes human oppression, as Pharaoh's efforts to suppress Israel only resulted in greater growth.

Verse 15

Shiphrah and Puah are the first individuals named in Exodus who actively resist the tyranny of Pharaoh, introducing the theme of righteous civil disobedience.

Verse 16

Pharaoh's decree targets only male infants, a strategy aimed at eliminating the future leadership and military capacity of the Hebrews while preserving the females for assimilation or servitude.

Verse 17

The midwives’ 'fear of God' (reverence and obedience to divine law) superseded their fear of the king, setting a crucial precedent for resistance against unjust worldly power.

Verse 21

The phrase 'he made them houses' is an idiom signifying that God rewarded the midwives' faithfulness by granting them families, prosperity, or establishing their own enduring lineages.

Verse 22

This final, public decree shifts the responsibility for infanticide from specific professionals (midwives) to the entire Egyptian populace, escalating the conflict and confirming Pharaoh’s utter depravity.

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