THE BOOK OF EXODUS

 

Exodus Chapter 1

1 ¶ Now these are the names of the sons of Israel, who came into Egypt with Jacob; each with his household.

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, and all his brothers, and that entire generation died.

7 But the descendants of Israel were fruitful, and increased greatly, and multiplied, and grew exceedingly strong; and the land was filled with them.

8 ¶ Then there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph.

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

10 Come on, let us deal shrewdly with them; otherwise they will multiply, and then if war breaks out, they may join our enemies, and fight against us, and escape out of the land.

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

12 But the more they oppressed them, the more they multiplied and grew. And the Egyptians came to dread the children of Israel.

13 And the Egyptians forced 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 kinds of work in the field: and in all their work, they made them serve with harshness and severity.

15 ¶ Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom one was named Shiphrah, and the other named Puah:

16 And he said, When you act as a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the birthstool; if it is a son, then you shall kill him: but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.

17 But the midwives feared God, and did not do 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 allowed the men children to live?

19 And the midwives said to Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous, and give birth before a midwife can get to them.

20 Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and grew very strong.

21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.

22 Then Pharaoh commanded all of his people, saying, Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive.