Exodus 1
Exodus 1 serves as a bridge between Genesis and Exodus, explaining the background of how the Israelites became slaves in Egypt. After Joseph and his generation die, the Israelite people multiply greatly, but a new Pharaoh arises and comes to view the Israelites as a threatening group.
1verseNow these are the names of the sons of Israel, who came into Egypt (every man and his household came with Jacob):
2verseReuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,
3verseIssachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,
4verseDan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.
5verseAll the souls who came out of Jacob’s body were seventy souls, and Joseph was in Egypt already.
6verseJoseph died, as did all his brothers, and all that generation.
7verseThe children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them.
8verseNow there arose a new king over Egypt, who didn’t know Joseph.
9verseHe said to his people, “Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we.
10verseCome, let’s deal wisely with them, lest they multiply, and it happen that when any war breaks out, they also join themselves to our enemies and fight against us, and escape out of the land.”
11verseTherefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. They built storage cities for Pharaoh: Pithom and Raamses.
12verseBut the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread out. They started to dread the children of Israel.
13verseThe Egyptians ruthlessly made the children of Israel serve,
14verseand they made their lives bitter with hard service in mortar and in brick, and in all kinds of service in the field, all their service, in which they ruthlessly made them serve.
15verseThe king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah,
16verseand he said, “When you perform the duty of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them on the birth stool, if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.”
17verseBut the midwives feared God, and didn’t do what the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the baby boys alive.
18verseThe king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said to them, “Why have you done this thing and saved the boys alive?”
19verseThe midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women aren’t like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.”
20verseGod dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied, and grew very mighty.
21verseBecause the midwives feared God, he gave them families.
22versePharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “You shall cast every son who is born into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive.”
The Flourishing of the Israelite People
At the beginning of chapter 1, there is a list of the families who entered Egypt with Jacob. Then, as time passes, although Joseph and the people of that generation all die, the descendants of Israel continue to multiply and grow into a strong nation. This shows that God’s covenant (the covenant with Abraham) continues to be fulfilled.
Pharaoh’s Fear and Oppressive Policy
The Pharaoh of the new dynasty recognizes the flourishing Israelite people as a national threat and carries out a forced-labor policy to oppress them. Through this, he had them build cities and storehouses for grain, but despite the oppression, the Israelites continue to flourish even more.
The Command Given to the Midwives and Their Courage
Pharaoh gives orders to the two Hebrew midwives that if an Israelite baby boy is born, they must put him to death. However, the midwives fear God, disobey Pharaoh’s command, and choose to save lives. God blesses these midwives.
Reflection Points
- You can reflect on the fact that God’s promises do not change and are fulfilled even in difficult circumstances.
- The courage of the weak and lowly (the midwives’ obedience) saves the community and becomes part of history.
Personal Application
- I can examine whether I am putting into practice the courage to follow God’s will in the place in life where I belong.
- I think about living a faithful life, placing my hope in God even amid oppression and trials.
