Exodus 1

1  THESE ARE the names of the sons of Israel who came into Egypt with Jacob, each with his household:2  Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,3  Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,4  Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.5  All the offspring of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was already in Egypt.6  Then Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation.7  But the descendants of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, and the land was full of them.8  Now a new king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph.9  He said to his people, Behold, the Israelites are too many and too mighty for us [and they outnumber us both in people and in strength].10  Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply more and, should war befall us, they join our enemies, fight against us, and escape out of the land.11  So they set over [the Israelites] taskmasters to afflict and oppress them with [increased] burdens. And [the Israelites] built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh.12  But the more [the Egyptians] oppressed them, the more they multiplied and expanded, so that [the Egyptians] were vexed and alarmed because of the Israelites.13  And the Egyptians reduced the Israelites to severe slavery.14  They made their lives bitter with hard service in mortar, brick, and all kinds of work in the field. All their service was with harshness and severity.15  Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, of whom one was named Shiprah and the other Puah,16  When you act as midwives to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, she shall live.17  But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded, but let the male babies live.18  So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, Why have you done this thing and allowed the male children to live?19  The midwives answered Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; they are vigorous and quickly delivered; their babies are born before the midwife comes to them.20  So God dealt well with the midwives and the people multiplied and became very strong.21  And because the midwives revered and feared God, He made them households [of their own].22  Then Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son born [to the Hebrews] you shall cast into the river [Nile], but every daughter you shall allow to live.

Exodus 1

Blessing during Bondage in Egypt

1 s Theset are the namess of the sons of Israelt who entered Egypt – each man with his householdt entered with Jacob:2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,4 Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.5 All the peoplet who were directly descendedt from Jacob numbered seventy.s But Joseph was already in Egypt,t6 and in timet Josephts and his brothers and all that generation died.

7 The Israelites,t however,t were fruitful, increased greatly, multiplied, and became extremely strong,ts so that the land was filled with them.
8 Then a new king,s who did not know aboutt Joseph, came to powert over Egypt.9 He saidt to his people, “Look att the Israelite people, more numerous and stronger than we are!

10 Come, let’s deal wiselyts with them. Otherwiset they will continue to multiply,t and ift a war breaks out, they will ally themselves witht our enemies and fight against us and leavet the country.”
11 So they put forement over the Israelitest to oppresss them with hard labor. As a resultt they built Pithom and Ramesess as store cities for Pharaoh.12 But the more the Egyptianst oppressed them, the more they multiplied and spread.ts As a result the Egyptians loathedt the Israelites,13 and theyt made the Israelites serve rigorously.t

14 They made their lives bitters byt hard service with mortar and bricks and by all kinds of servicet in the fields. Every kind of service the Israelites were required to give was rigorous.t
15 The king of Egypt saidt to the Hebrew midwives,s one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah,t16 t “When you assistt the Hebrew women in childbirth, observe at the delivery:t If it is a son, kill him,s but if it is a daughter, she may live.”t

17 Butt the midwives feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them; they let the boys live.t
18 Then the king of Egypt summonedt the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this and let the boys live?”t19 The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrews women are not like the Egyptian women – for the Hebrew woment are vigorous; they give birth before the midwife gets to them!”ts20 So God treated the midwives well,t and the people multiplied and became very strong.

21 And because the midwives feared God, he madet householdst for them.

22 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “All sonst that are born you must throwt into the river, but all daughters you may let live.”ts