Bible Commentary


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1 Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; 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.

5 And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already.

6 And Joseph died, and all his brothers, and all that generation.

7 And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.

8 Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.

9 And he said to his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:

10 Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falls out any war, they join also to our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.

11 Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.

12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.

13 And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigor:

14 And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in mortar, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigor.

15 And the king of Egypt spoke 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 you do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them on the stools; if it be a son, then you shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.

17 But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.

18 And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said to them, Why have you done this thing, and have saved the men children alive?

19 And the midwives said to Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in to them.

20 Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.

21 And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.

22 And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born you shall cast into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive.


Exo 6:14-16, Gen 29:31-35, Gen 30:1-21, Gen 35:18, Gen 35:23-26, Gen 46:8-26, Gen 49:3-27, 1Ch 2:1, 1Ch 2:2, 1Ch 12:23-40, 1Ch 27:16-22, Rev 7:4-8

Nehemiah, Neh 10:1, in the month, Ezr 10:9, Zec 7:1, in the twentieth, Ezr 7:7, Shushan, Shushan, or Susa, was the capital of Susiana, a province of Persia, and the winter residence of the Persian monarchs; situated about 252 miles east of Babylon, and the same distance south-south-east of Ecbatana, in lat. 32 degrees, long. 49 degrees. The circumference of its walls was about 120 stadia. Shouster is supposed to occupy its site. Est 1:2, Est 3:15, Dan 8:2

Reciprocal: Gen 15:13 - thy Gen 35:22 - Now the sons Exo 28:10 - according to their birth Num 1:2 - the children Eze 48:1 - the names Act 7:8 - and Jacob Rev 4:1 - a door

Reuben: Gen 35:22

Reciprocal: Gen 42:13 - Thy servants Gen 46:15 - Leah Gen 46:25 - Bilhah Num 1:5 - Elizur 1Ch 2:1 - Reuben Mat 1:2 - Jacob begat Rev 7:5 - tribe of Juda

Issachar: Gen 35:23

Benjamin: Exo 28:20

Reciprocal: Gen 46:15 - Leah Gen 46:19 - Rachel

Dan: Gen 35:25, 1Ch 2:2

Asher: Gen 35:26, Gen 46:17

Reciprocal: Gen 46:18 - Zilpah

loins: Heb. thigh, Gen 46:26, Jdg 8:30, *marg.

seventy: Exo 1:20, Gen 46:26, Gen 46:27, Deu 10:22

Reciprocal: Gen 46:19 - Rachel Exo 24:1 - seventy Deu 26:5 - a few Jer 52:29 - persons Heb 7:5 - come

am 2369, bc 1635, Gen 50:24, Gen 50:26, Act 7:14-16

Reciprocal: Ecc 1:4 - One generation Ecc 2:16 - there is Act 7:15 - died Rom 5:14 - death

fruitful: Exo 12:37, Gen 1:20, Gen 1:28, Gen 9:1, Gen 12:2, Gen 13:16, Gen 15:5, Gen 17:4-6, Gen 17:16, Gen 22:17, Gen 26:4, Gen 28:3, Gen 28:4, Gen 28:14, Gen 35:11, Gen 46:3, Gen 47:27, Gen 48:4, Gen 48:16, Deu 10:22, Deu 26:5, Neh 9:23, Psa 105:24, Act 7:17, Act 7:18

Reciprocal: Gen 1:21 - brought Gen 26:22 - be fruitful Exo 1:20 - the people Exo 5:5 - General Lev 26:9 - make you Num 22:5 - they cover Deu 6:3 - that ye may Job 12:23 - increaseth Psa 107:38 - He blesseth Ecc 1:4 - One generation Eze 16:7 - caused Zec 10:8 - and they Act 13:17 - and exalted Heb 6:15 - General

a new king: Probably Rameses Miamum, or his son Amenophis, who succeeded him about this period; and by his not knowing Joseph is meant his not acknowledging his obligation to him. Ecc 2:18, Ecc 2:19, Ecc 9:15, Act 7:18

Reciprocal: Exo 2:25 - had respect Psa 105:24 - made Ecc 2:16 - there is Ecc 9:6 - their love

the people: Num 22:4, Num 22:5, Job 5:2, Psa 105:24, Psa 105:25, Pro 14:28, Pro 27:4, Ecc 4:4, Tit 3:3, Jas 3:14-16, Jas 4:5

Reciprocal: Gen 26:16 - mightier Exo 1:12 - grieved Deu 4:34 - take him Psa 73:8 - speak wickedly Act 7:19 - General

Come on: Psa 10:2, Psa 83:3, Psa 83:4, Pro 1:11

wisely: Num 22:6, Job 5:13, Psa 105:25, Pro 16:25, Pro 21:30, Act 7:19, Act 23:12, 1Co 3:18-20, Jas 3:15-18

Reciprocal: Exo 18:11 - in the thing 2Sa 16:20 - Give counsel 1Ki 12:28 - took counsel Psa 33:10 - The Lord Psa 73:8 - speak wickedly Isa 10:24 - after the manner Hab 3:14 - their Mat 2:7 - General Luk 16:8 - done 1Co 3:19 - He

to afflict: Exo 3:7, Exo 5:15, Gen 15:13, Num 20:15, Deu 26:6

burdens: Exo 2:11, Exo 5:4, Exo 5:5, Psa 68:13, Psa 81:6, Psa 105:13

Raamses: Gen 47:11, Pro 27:4

Reciprocal: Gen 48:4 - Behold I Exo 3:9 - and I have Exo 5:6 - taskmasters Exo 5:10 - taskmasters Exo 12:37 - Rameses Num 16:13 - out of a Num 33:3 - they departed 1Ki 9:19 - the cities of store 1Ch 27:25 - the storehouses Psa 105:25 - to hate Lam 5:13 - fell Eze 16:4 - for

But the more: etc. Heb. and as they afflicted them, so they multiplied, etc. Psa 105:24, Pro 21:30, Rom 8:28, Heb 12:6-11

grieved: Exo 1:9, Job 5:2, Pro 27:4, Joh 12:19, Act 4:2-4, Act 5:28-33

Reciprocal: Gen 47:27 - grew Exo 1:20 - the people Deu 26:5 - became Psa 129:1 - have they Pro 14:28 - General

Reciprocal: Exo 1:14 - was with rigour Exo 3:9 - and I have Lev 25:43 - rule 2Sa 7:10 - as beforetime 1Ki 12:11 - I will add 1Ch 17:9 - as at the 2Ch 10:4 - grievous 2Ch 10:11 - I will put Job 24:12 - groan Psa 107:39 - oppression Ecc 4:1 - and considered Isa 52:5 - make Eze 34:4 - but with Joh 8:33 - and were Rev 11:8 - Egypt

their lives: Exo 2:23, Exo 6:9, Gen 15:13, Num 20:15, Deu 4:20, Deu 26:6, Rth 1:20, Act 7:19, Act 7:34

in mortar: Psa 68:13, Psa 81:6, Nah 3:14

was with rigour: Exo 1:13, Exo 5:7-21, Exo 20:2, Lev 25:43, Lev 25:46, Lev 25:53, Isa 14:6, Isa 51:23, Isa 52:5, Isa 58:6, Jer 50:33, Jer 50:34, Mic 3:3

Reciprocal: Gen 11:3 - brick Exo 3:9 - and I have Exo 12:8 - with bitter Lev 25:39 - compel him to serve as 2Sa 7:10 - as beforetime 1Ki 12:11 - I will add 1Ch 17:9 - as at the 1Ch 20:3 - with saws 2Ch 10:4 - grievous 2Ch 10:11 - I will put Job 24:12 - groan Psa 107:39 - oppression Pro 28:15 - so Ecc 4:1 - and considered Isa 30:6 - into the land Jer 43:9 - in the brickkiln Eze 34:4 - but with Joh 8:33 - and were Rev 11:8 - Egypt

Reciprocal: Jos 2:6 - to the roof

and see them: Or, rather, "and ye see them by the stone-troughs;" for so ovnayim, from aven, a stone, seems to signify - compare Exo 7:19, in which they washed the new-born infants. See this subject fully illustrated in Fragments to Calmet, Nos. 312, 313.

then ye shall: Exo 1:22, Mat 21:38, Rev 12:4

Reciprocal: Exo 18:11 - in the thing Num 20:15 - vexed us Deu 26:6 - General 2Sa 13:28 - commanded Psa 105:25 - to hate Ecc 4:1 - and considered Jer 31:2 - The people Dan 3:10 - hast made Heb 11:23 - the king’s

feared God: Gen 20:11, Gen 42:18, Neh 5:15, Psa 31:19, Pro 8:13, Pro 16:6, Pro 24:11, Pro 24:12, Ecc 8:12, Ecc 12:13, Dan 3:16-18, Dan 6:13, Hos 5:11, Mic 6:16, Mat 10:28, Luk 12:5, Act 4:19, Act 5:29

Reciprocal: Lev 25:43 - but shalt 1Sa 19:17 - He said 1Sa 22:17 - would not 2Sa 13:28 - commanded 2Sa 24:4 - went out 1Ki 21:11 - did as Jezebel 1Ch 21:4 - Wherefore Est 3:3 - Why Pro 31:30 - a woman Ecc 8:5 - keepeth Mal 3:5 - fear Mat 2:12 - they departed

Why have: 2Sa 13:28, Ecc 8:4

Jos 2:4-24, 1Sa 21:2, 2Sa 17:19, 2Sa 17:20

God: Psa 41:1, Psa 41:2, Psa 61:5, Psa 85:9, Psa 103:11, Psa 111:5, Psa 145:19, Pro 11:18, Pro 19:17, Ecc 8:12, Isa 3:10, Mat 10:42, Mat 25:40, Luk 1:50, Heb 6:10

the people: Exo 1:7, Exo 1:12

Reciprocal: Exo 1:5 - seventy Job 12:23 - increaseth Ecc 8:5 - keepeth Act 7:17 - the people

made them: 1Sa 2:35, 1Sa 25:28, 2Sa 7:11-13, 2Sa 7:27-29, 1Ki 2:24, 1Ki 11:38, Psa 37:3, Psa 127:1, Psa 127:3, Pro 24:3, Ecc 8:12, Jer 35:2

Reciprocal: Lev 25:43 - but shalt 1Ki 21:11 - did as Jezebel 1Ch 17:10 - the Lord Ecc 8:5 - keepeth

am 2431, bc 1573

Every son: Exo 1:16, Exo 7:19-21, Psa 105:25, Pro 1:16, Pro 4:16, Pro 27:4, Act 7:19, Rev 16:4-6

Reciprocal: Gen 41:1 - the river Exo 2:3 - could not Exo 3:9 - and I have Exo 4:9 - blood Exo 7:17 - and they Exo 14:26 - the waters Exo 18:11 - in the thing Num 16:13 - out of a Num 20:15 - vexed us Deu 26:6 - General 2Sa 7:10 - as beforetime Psa 129:1 - have they Pro 14:28 - General Pro 28:15 - so Ecc 4:1 - and considered Jer 31:2 - The people Eze 16:5 - but thou Dan 3:10 - hast made Hab 3:14 - their Mat 2:13 - for Rom 5:14 - even Heb 11:23 - the king’s