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Commentary on Exodus 1 verses 1–7
In these verses we have, 1. A recital of the names of the twelve patriarchs, as they are called, Act 7:8. Their names are often repeated in scripture, that they may not sound uncouth to us, as other hard names, but that, by their occurring so frequently, they may become familiar to us; and to show how precious God's spiritual Israel are to him, and how much he delights in them. The account which was kept of the number of Jacob's family, when they went down into Egypt; they were in all seventy souls (Exo 1:5). according to the computation we had, Gen 46:27. This was just the number of the nations by which the earth was peopled, according to the account given, Gen. 10. For when the Most High separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel, as Moses observes, Deu 32:8. Notice is here taken of this that their increase in Egypt might appear the more wonderful. Note, It is good for those whose latter end greatly increases often to remember how small their beginning was, Job 8:7. 3. The death of Joseph, Exo 1:6. All that generation by degrees wore off. Perhaps all Jacob's sons died much about the same time; for there was not more than seven years' difference in age between the eldest and the youngest of them, except Benjamin; and, when death comes into a family, sometimes it makes a full end in a little time. When Joseph, the stay of the family, died, the rest went off apace. Note, We must look upon ourselves and our brethren, and all we converse with, as dying and hastening out of the world. This generation passeth away, as that did which went before. 4. The strange increase of Israel in Egypt, Exo 1:7. Here are four words used to express it: They were fruitful, and increased abundantly, like fishes or insects, so that they multiplied; and, being generally healthful and strong, they waxed exceedingly mighty, so that they began almost to outnumber the natives, for the land was in all places filled with them, at least Goshen, their own allotment. Observe, (1.) Though, no doubt, they increased considerably before, yet, it should seem, it was not till after the death of Joseph that it began to be taken notice of as extraordinary. Thus, when they lost the benefit of his protection, God made their numbers their defence, and they became better able than they had been to shift for themselves. If God continue our friends and relations to us while we most need them, and remove them when they can be better spared, let us own that he is wise, and not complain that he is hard upon us. After the death of Christ, our Joseph, his gospel Israel began most remarkably to increase: and his death had an influence upon it; it was like the sowing of a corn of wheat, which, if it die, bringeth forth much fruit, Joh 12:24. (2.) This wonderful increase was the fulfillment of the promise long before made unto the fathers. From the call of Abraham, when God first told him he would make of him a great nation, to the deliverance of his seed out of Egypt, it was 430 years, during the first 215 of which they were increased but to seventy, but, in the latter half, those seventy multiplied to 600,000 fighting men. Note, [1.] Sometimes God's providences may seem for a great while to thwart his promises, and to go counter to them, that his people's faith may be tried, and his own power the more magnified. [2.] Though the performance of God's promises is sometimes slow, yet it is always sure; at the end it shall speak, and not lie, Hab 2:3.
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SUMMARY
Exodus 1:6 serves as a concise yet profoundly significant transitional statement, marking the definitive end of the patriarchal era initiated in Genesis. It records the passing of Joseph, his brothers, and the entire generation that had migrated to Egypt, thereby concluding the period of familial favor and setting the stage for the dramatic shift in Israel's circumstances from cherished guests to an increasingly numerous, yet soon-to-be oppressed, nation awaiting divine intervention and deliverance.
CONTEXT
Literary Context: This verse acts as a crucial bridge between the narrative of Genesis and the unfolding drama of Exodus. Genesis concludes with the death of Joseph and the burial of Jacob, focusing on the establishment of Jacob's family in Egypt. Exodus 1:1-5 details the names of Jacob's sons who came to Egypt, emphasizing the initial small number of the family. Immediately following the declaration of their deaths in Exodus 1:6, Exodus 1:7 highlights the astonishing proliferation of the Israelites, fulfilling God's covenant promises of multiplication. This rapid growth, coupled with the passing of the original generation, directly precipitates the rise of a new pharaoh "who knew not Joseph" in Exodus 1:8, leading to the subsequent enslavement of the Israelites. Thus, Exodus 1:6 is not merely a historical note but a narrative pivot, signaling the conclusion of one phase and the commencement of the next, preparing the reader for the dramatic shift in the nation's fortunes.
Historical & Cultural Context: The period between Genesis and Exodus spans approximately 400 years, during which the Israelite family grew into a considerable population within Egypt. While the precise pharaohs and dynasties are debated, the narrative implies a significant shift in Egyptian policy towards the Israelites. Joseph's initial rise to power likely occurred under a pharaoh who valued his wisdom, possibly during the Middle Kingdom or the Hyksos period, where foreign rulers might have been more amenable to Semitic peoples. The "new king" mentioned in Exodus 1:8 likely represents a pharaoh of a new dynasty, possibly the New Kingdom, who sought to consolidate power, viewed the burgeoning foreign population with suspicion, and saw them as a potential threat or a convenient source of forced labor. The cultural context includes the Egyptian belief in the divinity of the pharaoh, their advanced civilization, and their reliance on slave labor for monumental building projects, all of which set the stage for the oppressive conditions the Israelites would face.
Key Themes: Exodus 1:6 contributes significantly to several overarching themes. Firstly, it underscores the inevitability of mortality and the transience of human leadership, even for divinely appointed figures like Joseph. Secondly, it marks a critical theological transition from the patriarchal period, where God interacted primarily with individual family heads, to the nascent national period, where God would begin to forge Israel into a distinct people. This transition is crucial for understanding the subsequent events of the Exodus, which are foundational to Israel's identity as God's chosen nation. Thirdly, the verse subtly points to God's sovereign plan and covenant faithfulness. Despite the passing of the founding generation, God's promise to Abraham that his descendants would become a great nation, as seen in Genesis 12:2, continues to unfold, even through periods of loss and hardship, setting the stage for the miraculous growth described in Exodus 1:7.
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
Exodus 1:6 masterfully employs Concision and Transition. The verse is remarkably brief, yet it encapsulates centuries of demographic change and theological significance, rapidly moving the narrative from the familial prosperity of Genesis to the national struggle of Exodus. This Concision allows the narrative to maintain a brisk pace, quickly establishing the new context. Furthermore, it functions as a powerful Transition point, bridging the patriarchal history with the national history of Israel. The simple statement of death, particularly of Joseph, who was central to the previous narrative, provides a clear demarcation. This verse also contains an element of Understatement; the profound implications of this generational shift—the loss of direct ties to the previous pharaoh and the vulnerability of the Israelites—are conveyed through a straightforward declaration of mortality, allowing the subsequent verses to reveal the dramatic consequences.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Exodus 1:6, while seemingly a straightforward historical record of death, carries profound theological weight. It starkly reminds humanity of the universal truth of mortality and the transience of all earthly life and leadership. Even figures as divinely blessed and instrumental as Joseph are subject to the natural course of life and death, underscoring that ultimate hope and security cannot rest in human strength, wisdom, or influence. This verse also marks a pivotal theological transition from the individualistic, patriarchal covenant relationship to the collective, national covenant. The passing of "that generation" clears the stage for God to work on a larger scale, transforming a family into a nation, preparing them for the reception of the Law and the establishment of a theocracy. This transition, though involving loss, is integral to God's unfolding redemptive plan, demonstrating His faithfulness to His covenant promises of multiplication and nation-building, even across generations and through periods of significant change.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Exodus 1:6 serves as a potent reminder that all seasons of life, even those marked by divine favor, strong leadership, or prosperity, are ultimately finite. It challenges us to consider where we place our ultimate trust and hope. If our security is rooted in human leaders, favorable circumstances, or past achievements, we are building on shifting sand. This verse redirects our gaze to the unchanging character and enduring promises of God, who remains sovereign over all generations and circumstances. It teaches us that God's purposes transcend individual lives and even entire eras. Just as God brought about His plan for Israel despite the death of the founding generation and the subsequent oppression, He continues to work His will through all transitions, challenges, and losses in our lives. We are called to trust in His faithfulness, recognizing that even when familiar comforts or influential figures depart, His grand narrative of redemption continues to unfold, inviting us to find our ultimate security in Him alone.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Does "all that generation" imply every single person from that time died?
Answer: While "all that generation" literally means everyone from that specific age group, in biblical narrative, such phrases often emphasize the prevailing reality or the majority of a cohort passing away, marking the end of a distinct era. It signifies that the original group who came to Egypt with Jacob had fully passed on, making way for a new, larger generation that had grown up entirely within Egypt. This highlights the demographic and historical transition rather than a strict, literal extinction of every individual. The focus is on the complete turnover of the original cohort that experienced the direct leadership of Joseph and his brothers, setting the stage for a new era where the Israelites were born and raised entirely in Egypt, as detailed in Exodus 1:7.
Why is the death of Joseph and his brothers specifically mentioned before "all that generation"?
Answer: Joseph and his brothers represent the foundational patriarchs and the direct link to the covenant promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Their individual deaths are specifically highlighted because they were the key figures who established the Israelite presence in Egypt and carried the direct lineage of the covenant. Their passing signifies not just a general demographic shift, but the end of the initial, direct patriarchal leadership and the transition to a period where the descendants would grow into a nation, often without such immediate, divinely appointed family heads. Joseph, in particular, was instrumental in bringing the family to Egypt and ensuring their initial prosperity, as recounted in Genesis 45:7-8. His death, therefore, marks a profound shift in the leadership and circumstances of the burgeoning nation, preparing for the rise of a new pharaoh who "knew not Joseph" in Exodus 1:8.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Exodus 1:6, by soberly noting the universal mortality of Joseph and his generation, subtly foreshadows the ultimate triumph over death achieved in Jesus Christ. While the passing of Joseph's generation led to a period of severe oppression for Israel, necessitating a deliverer, Christ's death was not an end but the decisive victory over sin and death itself, ushering in an eternal deliverance. Joseph, though a great deliverer of his people from famine, ultimately succumbed to death, as do all human leaders. However, Jesus, the true and greater Joseph, laid down His life only to take it up again, conquering the grave (John 10:18). His resurrection ensures that God's people are no longer bound by the transient nature of human life or the limitations of any earthly generation, but are part of an eternal kingdom, a spiritual family drawn from every tribe and nation (Revelation 7:9-10). Through Christ, the promise of a great nation finds its ultimate fulfillment, not merely in physical descendants, but in a spiritual body that inherits eternal life and a lasting dwelling place, transcending the cycles of death and new generations (Hebrews 12:22-24). He is the true Lamb of God, whose sacrifice takes away the sin of the world, offering a life that death cannot conquer (John 1:29).