Israel grows under Egypt’s oppression

1:1 These are the names of the sons of Israel who entered Egypt – each man with his household entered with Jacob: 1:2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, 1:3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, 1:4 Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. 1:5 All the people who were directly descended from Jacob numbered seventy. But Joseph was already in Egypt, 1:6 and in time Joseph and his brothers and all that generation died. 1:7 the Israelites, however, were fruitful, increased greatly, multiplied, and became extremely strong, so that the land was filled with them. 1:8 Then a new king, who did not know about Joseph, came to power over Egypt. 1:9 He said to his people, “Look at the Israelite people, more numerous and stronger than we are! 1:10 Come, let’s deal wisely with them. Otherwise they will continue to multiply, and if a war breaks out, they will ally themselves with our enemies and fight against us and leave the country.” 1:11 So they put foremen over the Israelites to oppress them with hard labor. As a result they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. 1:12 But the more the Egyptians oppressed them, the more they multiplied and spread. As a result the Egyptians loathed the Israelites, 1:13 and they made the Israelites serve rigorously. 1:14 they made their lives bitter by hard service with mortar and bricks and by all kinds of service in the fields. Every kind of service the Israelites were required to give was rigorous. 1:15 The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, 1:16 “When you assist the Hebrew women in childbirth, observe at the delivery: If it is a son, kill him, but if it is a daughter, she may live.” 1:17 But the midwives feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them; they let the boys live. 1:18 Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this and let the boys live?” 1:19 The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women – for the Hebrew women are vigorous; they give birth before the midwife gets to them!” 1:20 So God treated the midwives well, and the people multiplied and became very strong. 1:21 And because the midwives feared God, he made households for them. 1:22 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “All sons that are born you must throw into the river, but all daughters you may let live.”

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Jacob’s family entered Egypt as seventy people. After Joseph’s generation died, Israel grew into a strong people. A new king feared them and tried to weaken them with hard labor. When that did not work, he ordered the Hebrew midwives to kill the boys. But they feared God and let them live. God blessed the midwives, and Pharaoh then commanded that Hebrew sons be thrown into the river.

This passage begins Exodus by linking Israel in Egypt to the family that came with Jacob. The names and the number seventy remind us that this is the same covenant people seen at the end of Genesis. The chapter then shows a surprising turn. Israel does not fade away. God makes them fruitful, and they multiply greatly.

A new king rises who does not know Joseph. He sees Israel as a threat and tries to act wisely against them. He puts them under hard labor and makes their lives bitter. But the more they are oppressed, the more they increase. Pharaoh’s plan fails.

Then the attack grows worse. Pharaoh tells the Hebrew midwives to kill the baby boys. Shiphrah and Puah fear God more than the king. They do not obey his command to murder. God deals well with them and gives them households. The chapter ends with Pharaoh’s final cruel order to throw every Hebrew son into the river.

The main lesson is clear. Human power cannot stop what God has promised. Pharaoh acts from fear and cruelty, but the midwives act from the fear of God. The Lord preserves his people, even under harsh oppression.

• Israel’s growth in Egypt was not accidental; it was under God’s care.
• Pharaoh feared Israel’s number and tried to control them through oppression.
• Hard labor did not stop God from making Israel multiply.
• The midwives feared God and refused to obey a command to kill babies.
• God honored the midwives for their faithful fear of him.
• Pharaoh’s final command shows how far tyranny can go when it hardens against God.

• Warning: Human rulers can become cruel and murderous when they fear losing power.
• Warning: The text shows the bitter results of oppression and the evil of trying to secure power through violence.
• Promise: God can preserve and increase his people even under severe pressure.
• Command: Fear God above human rulers.
• Command: Do not cooperate with evil or murder.
• Promise: God treats faithful servants well and cares for those who honor him.

This chapter stands between Genesis and the rest of Exodus. The family promise given to Abraham is still alive, even in Egypt. God is preserving the promised seed so that Israel can become a great nation. This prepares for the exodus, when God will redeem his people and show his power over Egypt. In the larger Bible story, this also supports the path that leads to Christ, the greater deliverer.

When obedience to God and obedience to people collide, God must come first. This passage calls believers to courage, especially when authority asks them to do evil. It also reminds us not to trust political power, force, or planning as if they can control the future. The Lord keeps his promises, even when his people are under pressure.

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