The Law · Chapter 1 of 40

Exodus 1

The sons of Israel who came to Egypt multiply greatly after Joseph's generation dies. A new king who did not know Joseph fears their number and enslaves them with harsh labor, yet the more they are afflicted the more they grow. He orders the Hebrew midwives to kill newborn boys, but Shiphrah and Puah fear God and spare them. Pharaoh then commands that every son be cast into the river.

What happens in Exodus 1

The chapter names the sons of Israel who entered Egypt and reports that after Joseph and his whole generation die, the Israelites become fruitful and fill the land. A new king arises who does not know Joseph and, fearing the people's growing strength, resolves to deal shrewdly with them. He sets taskmasters over them and afflicts them with hard bondage, building the store cities Pithom and Raamses. Yet the more they are oppressed, the more they multiply, so the Egyptians dread them and increase the cruelty.

Pharaoh then commands the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, to kill every newborn boy. But the midwives fear God and let the boys live, telling Pharaoh the Hebrew women deliver too quickly. God deals well with the midwives and gives them households of their own. Thwarted, Pharaoh charges all his people to throw every Hebrew son into the Nile.

Exodus 1 in context

Exodus opens generations after Genesis closed. The family of seventy has become a nation, fulfilling God's promise to make Abraham's descendants numerous. But the favor Joseph won has been forgotten, and Egypt turns oppressor.

This chapter sets the stage for the Exodus, introducing the bondage from which God will deliver Israel and the murderous decree that Moses, born in the next chapter, will survive.

Main themes of Exodus 1

Exodus 1 (KJV)

1Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob. 2Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, 3Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, 4Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. 5And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already. 6And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation. 7And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. 8Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. 9And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: 10Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land. 11Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. 12But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel. 13And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour: 14And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, 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. 15And 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: 16And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live. 17But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive. 18And 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? 19And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them. 20Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty. 21And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses. 22And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.

Verses to carry from Exodus 1

“But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.”Exodus 1:12

“But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.”Exodus 1:17

“And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.”Exodus 1:22

Reflection

Shiphrah and Puah were ordinary women with no power, yet their reverence for God changed the course of a nation. When a command conflicts with what God requires, whom do you fear more? Small acts of quiet courage, done out of the fear of God, can shelter life in the shadow of great cruelty.

A prayer from Exodus 1