Blessing During the Bondage in Egypt
1:1 These1 are the names2 of the sons of Israel3 who entered Egypt—each man with his household4 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 And all the people5 who were directly descended6 from Jacob were seventy7 people (Joseph was already in Egypt8). 1:6 In time9 Joseph10 and his brothers and all that generation died. 1:7 But11 the Israelites12 were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and became exceedingly strong,13 so that the land was filled with them.
1:8 Then a new king,14 who did not know15 Joseph, came to power16 over Egypt. 1:9 He said17 to his people, “Because18 that the Israelites are more numerous and mighty than we, 1:10 come, let’s deal shrewdly19 with them, lest20 they continue to multiply,21 and if22 a war breaks out, ally themselves with23 our enemies and fight against us and go up24 out of the land.”
1:11 So they installed25 over them captains of the work forces26 in order to oppress27 them with hard labor. As a result28 they built Pithom and Rameses29 as store cities for Pharaoh. 1:12 But the more30 they oppressed them, the more they multiplied and spread. As a result the Egyptians loathed31 the Israelites, 1:13 and they32 made the Israelites serve rigorously.33 1:14 So34 they made their lives bitter by means of35 hard labor in mortar and in bricks and by all kinds36 of labor in the fields. All their labor they made them serve with rigor.37
1:15 The king of Egypt said38 to the Hebrew midwives,39 one of whom was named Shiphrah, and the other Puah,40 1:1641 “When you assist42 the Hebrew women in childbirth, observe at the birthstool; if it is a boy, kill him,43 but if it is a girl, then she may live.”44 1:17 But45 the midwives feared God, and they did not do what the king of Egypt had told them; they let the boys live.46
1:18 Then the king of Egypt summoned47 the midwives, and he said to them, “Why have you done this thing and let the boys live?”48 1:19 And the midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew49 women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous; and before the midwives50 come to them they give birth.”51 1:20 So God treated the midwives well,52 and the people multiplied and became exceedingly strong. 1:21 And because the midwives feared God, he made53 households54 for them.
1:22 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “All sons55 that are born you must throw56 into the river, but all daughters you may57 let live.”58