“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 brethren, 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 unto 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
falleth out any war, they join also unto 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 rigour: 14 And 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.”
“15 And 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: 16 And
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. 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 unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men
children alive? 19 And 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. 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 ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye
shall save alive.” (Ex 1:1-22 AV)
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