Exodus 1

Exodus 1 transitions from the narrative of Genesis, focusing on the multiplication of the Israelites after Joseph's time and setting the stage for their eventual enslavement in Egypt. This chapter introduces a new Pharaoh who does not know Joseph, thereby igniting the harsh treatment of the Israelites and setting the backdrop for the emergence of Moses as the deliverer of his people.

Exodus 1:1-3 (NKJV) 1 Now these are the names of the children of Israel who came to Egypt; each man and his household came with Jacob: 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah; 3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin;

These verses act as a bridge from Genesis, recapitulating the arrival of Jacob and his sons in Egypt. They enumerate the sons of Jacob, emphasizing the continuity of the family line and setting the stage for the narrative of their descendants' growth and subsequent oppression. The listing of names underlines the fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham to make his descendants a great nation.

Exodus 1:4-5 (NKJV) 4 Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. 5 All those who were descendants of Jacob were seventy persons (for Joseph was in Egypt already).

These verses continue the list of Jacob's sons, completing the enumeration of the twelve tribes of Israel. The mention of seventy persons corresponds with the account in Genesis, indicating the initial numerical strength of the Israelites upon their settlement in Egypt. This small but significant number highlights their exponential growth, which will later be seen as a threat by the Egyptians.

Exodus 1:6-7 (NKJV) 6 And Joseph died, all his brothers, and all that generation. 7 But the children of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly, multiplied and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them.

The death of Joseph and his generation marks the end of an era and the beginning of a period where the Israelites no longer have a protector within the Egyptian administration. Verse 7 contrasts sharply with this loss, describing the explosive growth of the Israelite population. Their prolific increase sets the stage for the socio-political tensions that lead to their enslavement, showcasing the fulfillment of God's promise of multiplication, yet also sowing the seeds for future conflicts.

Exodus 1:8-10 (NKJV) 8 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. 9 And he said to his people, “Look, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we; 10 come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and it happen, in the event of war, that they also join our enemies and fight against us, and so go up out of the land.”

A new Pharaoh comes to power who does not remember the contributions of Joseph, reflecting a deliberate distancing from the previous regime's policies or possibly a change in dynasty. His observations about the Israelites' growing numbers fuel paranoia about potential allegiance with enemies. This leads to his strategy to oppress them, preventing them from leaving Egypt or overpowering the native Egyptians. This strategic move sets in motion the harsh treatment and policies that will dominate the Israelite experience in Egypt.

Exodus 1:11 (NKJV) 11 Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh supply cities, Pithom and Raamses.

This verse introduces the implementation of harsh labor policies aimed at subduing the Israelite population. The Egyptians appoint taskmasters to oppress them, marking the beginning of their long period of slavery. The construction of the cities Pithom and Raamses serves both as an illustration of their forced labor and a testimony to the contributions of the Israelites to Egypt's infrastructure, albeit under grievous conditions.

Exodus 1:12-14 (NKJV) 12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were in dread of the children of Israel. 13 So the Egyptians made the children of Israel serve with rigor. 14 And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage—in mortar, in brick, and in all manner of service in the field. All their service in which they made them serve was with rigor.

Despite the Egyptians' efforts to control the Israelite population through oppression, the Israelites continue to multiply, which further alarms the Egyptians. This paradoxical outcome highlights a divine element in their growth, suggesting that the harder their conditions, the more they prosper. The Egyptians respond by increasing the harshness of their labor, forcing them into grueling work that encompasses both construction and agriculture. This severe treatment is designed not only to curb their growth but also to break their spirit and keep them subjugated.

Exodus 1:15-17 (NKJV) 15 Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of one was Shiphrah and the name of the other Puah, 16 and he said, “When you do the duties of a midwife for the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstools, if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.” 17 But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive.

Pharaoh escalates his efforts to control the Israelite population by targeting newborn males, instructing the midwives to kill them during childbirth. This directive aims to weaken the future generation of Israelites by reducing the number of potential male laborers and soldiers. However, the midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, defy Pharaoh's orders out of reverence for God, demonstrating early acts of civil disobedience driven by moral conviction. Their bravery not only saves lives but also represents a significant form of resistance against Pharaoh’s oppressive policies.

Exodus 1:18-20 (NKJV) 18 So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this thing, and saved the male children alive?” 19 And the midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are lively and give birth before the midwives come to them.” 20 Therefore God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied and grew very mighty.

When questioned by Pharaoh, the midwives cleverly defend their actions by claiming that Hebrew women give birth too quickly for them to intervene. This excuse shields them from direct retaliation and allows them to continue their subversive efforts. God rewards their faithfulness and courage by blessing them, further aiding the growth of the Israelite community. This passage underscores the theme of divine providence and protection, which plays a crucial role throughout the Exodus narrative.

Exodus 1:21-22 (NKJV) 21 And so it was, because the midwives feared God, that He provided households for them. 22 So Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “Every son who is born you shall cast into the river, but every daughter you may save alive.”

As a direct result of their faithfulness, the midwives are blessed with families of their own, reinforcing the idea that those who honor God will receive His protection and reward. The narrative concludes with Pharaoh extending his cruel edict to all his people, ordering them to throw every newborn Hebrew son into the river. This final act of desperation to curb the growth of the Israelites sets the stage for the birth of Moses, who will rise as the deliverer of his people, further weaving the themes of deliverance and divine intervention into the fabric of the Israelite story.