Old Testament Commentary - Exodus 1

by Don R. Hender

Not all Pharaohs were black Egyptians as the 'shepard kings' of Egypt were Semitic, even Cleopatra was Greek. And it does appear, that while a good portion of the Egyptian population of Joseph's day were descendants of 'Egyptus' and of Egyptian heritage, those with whom Joseph dealt and his family became involved with were more likely of the Semitic Kings and Pharaohs of Egypt than not. What happened to Joseph's influence and position in Egypt? Joseph once ruled the nation as he was so positioned by that first Pharaoh of his day. Did Joseph's ruling house of Egypt simply disapear from the Egyptian political scene? Or did a portion of Joseph's house, the senior line of Mannasseh, Joseph's eldest, politically, socially and maritally become a part of the Egyptian ruling class? Blood is not always thicker than polictical associations and royal standing as many blood associated relatives of the ruling elite can proclaim.

Scriptural Text [& Editorial] Commentary & Explanation Footnotes ~ References ~ JST

            CHAPTER 1
The children of Israel multiply—
They are placed in bondage by Egyptians—Pharaoh seeks to destroy sons born to Hebrew women.

1 NOW these are the ^anames of the ^bchildren of Israel, which came ^cinto ^dEgypt; every man and his household came with Jacob.
2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,
3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,
4 Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. 1^a OR consecrate or set apart.
   ^b Lev. 21:10 (10-15)
   ^c OR young bull (also vv. 3, 10-12,
      14, 36).; Lev. 8:2; 1 Chr. 13:9
2^a Lev. 2:4
   ^b HEB mingled
      OR smeared

5 And all the souls that came out of the loins of ^aJacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already.
6 And ^aJoseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation.
7 ¶ And the children of Israel were ^afruitful, and ^bincreased abundantly, and multiplied, and ^cwaxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. 1^a OR consecrate or set apart.
   ^b Lev. 21:10 (10-15)
   ^c OR young bull (also vv. 3, 10-12,
      14, 36).; Lev. 8:2; 1 Chr. 13:9
2^a Lev. 2:4
   ^b HEB mingled
      OR smeared

8 Now there arose up a new ^aking over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.
9 And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are ^amore and ^bmightier than we:
10 Come on, let us deal ^awisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there ^bfalleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.

Populations Explosion The rate of growth of the children of Israel was threatening the Egyptian society. And the separation between the ruling house of Egypt and the house of Joseph became divided and no longer ruled by any who cared for the children of the house of Israel. Joseph's house was the house of the kings as Joseph ruled in Egypt in his day. But the new 'king' did not know Joseph. Joseph was dead, but who is this new king who knew not Joseph and just how closely associated with the house of Joseph and the house of Pahraoh was he? 1^a OR consecrate or set apart.
   ^b Lev. 21:10 (10-15)
   ^c OR young bull (also vv. 3, 10-12,
      14, 36).; Lev. 8:2; 1 Chr. 13:9
2^a Lev. 2:4
   ^b HEB mingled
      OR smeared

11 Therefore they did set over them ^ataskmasters to afflict them with their ^bburdens. And they built for Pharaoh ^ctreasure cities, Pithom and ^dRaamses.
12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they ^amultiplied and grew. And they were ^bgrieved because of the children of Israel.
13 And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour:
14 And they made their lives bitter with hard ^abondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.

15 ¶ And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah:
16 And he said, When ye ^ado the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the ^bstools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.
17 But the midwives ^afeared God, and did not as the king of Egypt ^bcommanded them, but saved the men children alive.

18 And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive?
19 And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are ^adelivered ere the midwives come in unto them.

20 Therefore God dealt ^awell with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.
21 And it came to pass, because the midwives ^afeared God, that he made them ^bhouses.
22 And Pharaoh charged all his people^a, saying, Every son that is ^aborn ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive. 22^a Pharaoh charged all his people This is a rather strange phrase for Pharaoh to call the Hebrews 'his' people. Who is this Pharaoh and what manner of man is he that he would call for the murder of inocent babies?

Scriptural Text [& Editorial]	Commentary & Explanation	Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 1 The children of Israel multiply— They are placed in bondage by Egyptians—Pharaoh seeks to destroy sons born to Hebrew women.
1 NOW these are the ^anames of the ^bchildren of Israel, which came ^cinto ^dEgypt; every man and his household came with Jacob. 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, 3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, 4 Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.		1^a OR consecrate or set apart. ^b Lev. 21:10 (10-15) ^c OR young bull (also vv. 3, 10-12, 14, 36).; Lev. 8:2; 1 Chr. 13:9 2^a Lev. 2:4 ^b HEB mingled OR smeared
5 And all the souls that came out of the loins of ^aJacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already. 6 And ^aJoseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation. 7 ¶ And the children of Israel were ^afruitful, and ^bincreased abundantly, and multiplied, and ^cwaxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.		1^a OR consecrate or set apart. ^b Lev. 21:10 (10-15) ^c OR young bull (also vv. 3, 10-12, 14, 36).; Lev. 8:2; 1 Chr. 13:9 2^a Lev. 2:4 ^b HEB mingled OR smeared
8 Now there arose up a new ^aking over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. 9 And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are ^amore and ^bmightier than we: 10 Come on, let us deal ^awisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there ^bfalleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land. Populations Explosion The rate of growth of the children of Israel was threatening the Egyptian society. And the separation between the ruling house of Egypt and the house of Joseph became divided and no longer ruled by any who cared for the children of the house of Israel. Joseph's house was the house of the kings as Joseph ruled in Egypt in his day. But the new 'king' did not know Joseph. Joseph was dead, but who is this new king who knew not Joseph and just how closely associated with the house of Joseph and the house of Pahraoh was he?		1^a OR consecrate or set apart. ^b Lev. 21:10 (10-15) ^c OR young bull (also vv. 3, 10-12, 14, 36).; Lev. 8:2; 1 Chr. 13:9 2^a Lev. 2:4 ^b HEB mingled OR smeared
11 Therefore they did set over them ^ataskmasters to afflict them with their ^bburdens. And they built for Pharaoh ^ctreasure cities, Pithom and ^dRaamses. 12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they ^amultiplied and grew. And they were ^bgrieved because of the children of Israel. 13 And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour: 14 And they made their lives bitter with hard ^abondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.
15 ¶ And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah: 16 And he said, When ye ^ado the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the ^bstools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live. 17 But the midwives ^afeared God, and did not as the king of Egypt ^bcommanded them, but saved the men children alive.
18 And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive? 19 And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are ^adelivered ere the midwives come in unto them.
20 Therefore God dealt ^awell with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty. 21 And it came to pass, because the midwives ^afeared God, that he made them ^bhouses. 22 And Pharaoh charged all his people^a, saying, Every son that is ^aborn ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.	22^a Pharaoh charged all his people This is a rather strange phrase for Pharaoh to call the Hebrews 'his' people. Who is this Pharaoh and what manner of man is he that he would call for the murder of inocent babies?