Israel Enslaved in Egypt

Following the death of Joseph and his entire generation, the children of Israel were fruitful and multiplied until they filled the land of Egypt. A new king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph, and he expressed concern to his people that the Israelites were becoming more numerous and powerful than the Egyptians. The king feared that in the event of war, the Israelites would join with enemies and leave the land (Exodus 1:7-10). To address this, the Egyptians appointed taskmasters over the Israelites to afflict them with burdens. The Israelites were forced to build supply cities named Pithom and Raamses for Pharaoh (Exodus 1:11).

Despite the affliction, the Israelite population continued to multiply and spread, causing the Egyptians to be in dread of them. Consequently, the Egyptians made the children of Israel serve with rigor, making their lives bitter with hard bondage in mortar, brick, and all types of service in the field (Exodus 1:12-14). The king of Egypt then spoke to the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, and commanded them to observe the Hebrew women on the birthstools. He ordered that if a son was born, they were to kill him, but if a daughter was born, she should live. The midwives feared God and did not do as the king commanded, allowing the male children to live (Exodus 1:15-17).

When the king of Egypt summoned the midwives to ask why they had saved the male children, they replied that Hebrew women were not like Egyptian women because they were lively and gave birth before the midwives arrived (Exodus 1:18-19). Because the midwives feared God, He dealt well with them and provided them with households. The people continued to multiply and became very mighty. Finally, Pharaoh charged all his people to cast every son that was born into the river, while allowing every daughter to live (Exodus 1:20-22).