11 Now these are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob ; they came each one [1]with his household : 2 Reuben , Simeon , Levi and Judah ; 3 Issachar , Zebulun and Benjamin ; 4 Dan and Naphtali , Gad and Asher . 5 All the [2]persons who came from the loins of Jacob were seventy [3]in number , but Joseph was already in Egypt . 6 Joseph died , and all his brothers and all that generation . 7 But the sons of Israel were fruitful and [4]increased greatly , and multiplied , and became exceedingly [5]mighty , so that the land was filled with them.
8 Now a new king arose over Egypt , who did not know Joseph . 9 He said to his people , "Behold , the people of the sons of Israel are [6]more and mightier than we. 10 "Come , let us deal wisely with them, or else they will multiply and [7]in the event e e of war , they will also join themselves to those who hate us, and fight against us and [8]depart from the land ." 11 So they appointed taskmasters e over them to afflict them with [9] hard labor . And they built for Pharaoh storage cities , Pithom and Raamses . 12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they [10]spread out, so that they were in dread of the sons of Israel . 13 The Egyptians compelled the sons of Israel to labor rigorously ; 14 and they made their lives bitter with hard labor in mortar and bricks and at all kinds of labor in the field , all their labors which they rigorously [11]imposed on them.
15 Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives , one of whom [12]was named Shiphrah and the other [12]was named Puah ; 16 and he said , "When you are helping the Hebrew women to give birth and see them upon the birthstool , if it is a son , then you shall put him to death ; but if it is a daughter , then she shall live ." 17 But the midwives [14] feared God , and did not do as the king of Egypt had [15]commanded them, but let the boys live . 18 So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, "Why have you done this thing , and let the boys live ?" 19 The midwives said to Pharaoh , "Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women ; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife [16]can get to them." 20 So God was good to the midwives , and the people multiplied , and became very [17]mighty . 21 Because the midwives [18] feared God , He [19] established [20]households for them.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 1:1-21
Commentary on Exodus 1:1-7
(Read Exodus 1:1-7)
During more than 200 years, while Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob lived at liberty, the Hebrews increased slowly; only about seventy persons went down into Egypt. There, in about the same number of years, though under cruel bondage, they became a large nation. This wonderful increase was according to the promise long before made unto the fathers. Though the performance of God's promises is sometimes slow, it is always sure.
Commentary on Exodus 1:8-14
(Read Exodus 1:8-14)
The land of Egypt became to Israel a house of bondage. The place where we have been happy, may soon become the place of our affliction; and that may prove the greatest cross to us, of which we said, This same shall comfort us. Cease from man, and say not of any place on this side heaven, This is my rest. All that knew Joseph, loved him, and were kind to his brethren for his sake; but the best and most useful services a man does to others, are soon forgotten after his death. Our great care should be, to serve God, and to please him who is not unrighteous, whatever men are, to forget our work and labour of love. The offence of Israel is, that he prospers. There is no sight more hateful to a wicked man than the prosperity of the righteous. The Egyptians feared lest the children of Israel should join their enemies, and get them up out of the land. Wickedness is ever cowardly and unjust; it makes a man fear, where no fear is, and flee, when no one pursues him. And human wisdom often is foolishness, and very sinful. God's people had task-masters set over them, not only to burden them, but to afflict them with their burdens. They not only made them serve for Pharaoh's profit, but so that their lives became bitter. The Israelites wonderfully increased. Christianity spread most when it was persecuted: the blood of the martyrs was the seed of the church. They that take counsel against the Lord and his Israel, do but imagine a vain thing, and create greater vexation to themselves.
Commentary on Exodus 1:15-22
(Read Exodus 1:15-22)
The Egyptians tried to destroy Israel by the murder of their children. The enmity that is in the seed of the serpent, against the Seed of the woman, makes men forget all pity. It is plain that the Hebrews were now under an uncommon blessing. And we see that the services done for God's Israel are often repaid in kind. Pharaoh gave orders to drown all the male children of the Hebrews. The enemy who, by Pharaoh, attempted to destroy the church in this its infant state, is busy to stifle the rise of serious reflections in the heart of man. Let those who would escape, be afraid of sinning, and cry directly and fervently to the Lord for assistance.