Exodus 1:15-21 NIV

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 1:17

The midwives feared God - Because they knew that God had forbidden murder of every kind; for though the law was not yet given, Exodus 20:13 , being Hebrews they must have known that God had from the beginning declared, Whosoever sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed, Genesis 9:6 . Therefore they saved the male children of all to whose assistance they were called. See Clarke's note on Exodus 1:19 . read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 1:19

The Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women - This is a simple statement of what general experience shows to be a fact, viz., that women, who during the whole of their pregnancy are accustomed to hard labor, especially in the open air, have comparatively little pain in parturition. At this time the whole Hebrew nation, men and women, were in a state of slavery, and were obliged to work in mortar and brick, and all manner of service In The Field, Exodus 1:14 , and this at once accounts... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 1:20

Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty - This shows an especial providence and blessing of God; for though in all cases where females are kept to hard labor they have comparatively easy and safe travail, yet in a state of slavery the increase is generally very small, as the children die for want of proper nursing, the women, through their labor, being obliged to neglect their offspring; so that in the slave countries the stock is obliged... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 1:21

He made them houses - Dr. Shuckford thinks that there is something wrong both in the punctuation and translation of this place, and reads the passage thus, adding the 21st to the 20th verse: "And they multiplied and waxed mighty; and this happened ( ויהי vayehi ) because the midwives feared God; and he (Pharaoh) made ( להם lahem , masc.). them (the Israelites) houses; and commanded all his people, saying, Every son that is born, etc." The doctor supposes that previously to this time... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 1:15

Verse 15 15.And the king of Egypt spake. The tyrant now descends from the open violence and cruelty which had availed nothing, to secret plots and deceit. He desires the infants to be killed at their birth; and commands the midwives to be the instruments of this dreadful barbarity. We read of no such detestable example of inhumanity since the world began. I admit it has occasionally happened, that, upon the capture of a city, the conquerors have not spared even children and infants; that is to... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 1:17

Verse 17 17.But the midwives feared God. Moses does not mean that they were then first affected with the fear of God; but he assigns this reason why they did not obey his unjust command, viz., because reverence towards God had greater influence with them. And certainly, as all our affections are best directed by this rein, so also it is the surest shield for resisting all temptations, and a firm support to uphold our minds from wavering in seasons of danger. Now, they not only dreaded this... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 1:18

Verse 18 18.And the king of Egypt called for the midwives. He was not reduced to a more moderate course by equity or mercy; but because he dared not openly expose to slaughter the wretched and harmless infants at their birth, lest such atrocity should arouse the wrath of the Israelites to vengeance, He therefore secretly sends for the midwives, and inquires why they have not executed his murderous command? I doubt not, however, that he was restrained rather by the fear of rebellion than by... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 1:21

Verse 21 21.He made them houses. (23) It is not at all my opinion that this should be expounded as referring to the women, and I am surprised that many interpreters have been grossly mistaken on so dear a point. All are agreed that the pronoun is masculine, and therefore, according to ordinary usage, should refer to males; but because the two letters ם and ן are sometimes used interchangeably, they have supposed that the two clauses of the verse must be connected, and both referred to the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 1:1-22

The prosperity of Israel. This prosperity was not a mere appearance, nor a passing spurt of fortune. It was a deep, abiding, and significant reality. Nor was it something exaggerated in order to make an excuse for the cruelties of a suspicious tyrant. There was indeed only too much to make Pharaoh uneasy; but altogether apart from his alarms there is a plain and emphatic statement of the prosperity of Israel in Exodus 1:7 . It is a very emphatic statement indeed, summoning us m the most... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 1:8-22

The policy of Pharaoh. I. THE PRINCIPLE OF THE POLICY . This is indicated in Exodus 1:9 , Exodus 1:10 . It was a policy of selfish fear, proceeding upon an unconcealed regard for the supremacy of Egypt. Whatever interfered with that supremacy was to be, if possible, swept completely out of the way. Pharaoh was dealing, not with the necessities of the present, but with the possibilities of the future. He made no pretence that Israel deserved to be dealt with in this... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 1:17

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 1:19

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 1:20

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 1:21

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 1:15

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 1:17

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 1:18

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 1:21

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 1:1-22

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 1:8-22

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