(21) He made them houses.—God rewarded those who had showed tenderness to young children, by giving them children of their own, who grew up, and became in their turn fathers and mothers of families. There is no indication that the “houses” spoken of were Hebrew ones. read more
Exodus 1:8 It is a rare thing to find posterity heirs of their father's love. How should men's favour be but like themselves, variable and inconstant! There is no certainty but in the favour of God, in whom can be no change, whose love is entailed upon a thousand generations. Bishop Hall. Exodus 1:10 Crimes and criminals are swept away by time, nature finds an antidote for their poisons, and they and their ill consequences alike are blotted out and perish. If we do not forgive the villain at... read more
THE OPPRESSION.Exodus 1:7-22.At the beginning of the history of Israel we find a prosperous race. It was indeed their growing importance, and chiefly their vast numerical increase, which excited the jealousy of their rulers, at the very time when a change of dynasty removed the sense of obligation. It is a sound lesson in political as well as personal godliness that prosperity itself is dangerous, and needs special protection from on high.Is it merely by chance again that we find in this first... read more
Analysis and Annotations I. ISRAEL'S DELIVERANCE OUT OF THE HANDS OF THE EGYPTIANS 1. The House of Bondage CHAPTER 1 1. The names of the children of Israel; their increase (Exodus 1:1-7 ) 2. The new king and his policy (Exodus 1:8-11 ) 3. The continued increase (Exodus 1:12 ) 4. Their hard bondage (Exodus 1:13-14 ) 5. The midwives commanded (Exodus 1:15-16 ) 6. Their disobedience and God’s reward (Exodus 1:17-21 ) 7. Pharaoh’s charge to all his people (Exodus 1:22 ) The... read more
1:15 And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one [was] {f} Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah:(f) These seem to have been the main of the rest. read more
1:19 And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew {g} women [are] not as the Egyptian women; for they [are] lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them.(g) Their disobedience in this was lawful, but their deception is evil. read more
1:21 And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he {h} made them houses.(h) That is, God increased the families of the Israelites by their means. read more
ISRAEL MULTIPLIED (vs.1-7) The first five verses of Exodus indicate its continuity with the book of Genesis, for they confirm what is written in more detail in Genesis 46:8-27. This small number of 70 persons, however, rather than integrating with the Egyptian nation, which would be normally expected, maintained an identity totally distinct from them. Since that time too, even though Israel has been scattered for centuries among other nations, God has preserved a clear distinction between... read more
JOSEPH ’S DEATH , MOSES ’ CALL In Exodus we have the deliverance of Israel out of Egypt and the establishment of their relationship with Jehovah their Deliverer. It opens by rehearsing the names of Jacob’s sons and the passing away of Joseph and his generation (Exodus 1:1-6 ) matters considered in Genesis. Then follows a statement of the numerical development of Israel. Count the adverbs, adjectives and nouns describing it, and see how God has fulfilled already one part of His prediction to... read more
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Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Exodus 1:20
(20) Therefore God dealt well with the midwives.—Heb., and God dealt well, &c. The reason is stated in Exodus 1:21. It was not because they equivocated and deceived the king, but because they feared God sufficiently to disobey the king, and run the risk of discovery. If they had been discovered, their life would have paid the forfeit. read more