Exodus 1:1-13

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 1:1-7

In these verses we have, 1. A recital of the names of the twelve patriarchs, as they are called, Acts 7:8. Their names are often repeated in scripture, that they may not sound uncouth to us, as other hard names, but that, by their occurring so frequently, they may become familiar to us; and to show how precious God's spiritual Israel are to him, and how much he delights in them. 2. The account which was kept of the number of Jacob's family, when they went down into Egypt; they were in all... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 1:8-14

The land of Egypt here, at length, becomes to Israel a house of bondage, though hitherto it had been a happy shelter and settlement for them. Note, The place of our satisfaction may soon become the place of our affliction, and that may prove the greatest cross to us of which we said, This same shall comfort us. Those may prove our sworn enemies whose parents were our faithful friends; nay, the same persons that loved us may possibly turn to hate us: therefore cease from man, and say not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 1:1

Now these are the names of the children of Israel which came down into Egypt ,.... Of the twelve patriarchs, the sons of Jacob, who were heads of the twelve tribes, whose names are here given; since the historian is about to give an account of their coming out of Egypt, and that it might be observed how greatly they increased in it, and how exactly the promise to Abraham, of the multiplication of his seed, was fulfilled: or, "and these are the names" F2 ואלה "et haec", Pagninus,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 1:2

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah. The first sons of Jacob by Leah. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 1:3

Issachar, Zebulun ,.... The other two sons of Jacob, by Leah: Benjamin ; the youngest of all Jacob's sons is placed here, being his son by his beloved wife Rachel. Joseph is not put into the account, because he did not go into Egypt with Jacob. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 1:4

Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. Who are last mentioned, being sons of the concubine wives. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 1:5

And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls ,.... "Souls" are put for persons; of the number seventy, and how reckoned; see Gill on Genesis 46:27 . This was but a small number that went down to Egypt, when compared with that which went out of it; and that it should be compared with it is the design of its being mentioned, see Exodus 12:37 , for Joseph was in Egypt already ; and is the reason why he is not reckoned among the sons of Jacob, that came... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 1:6

And Joseph died, and all his brethren ,.... It is a notion of the Jews, that Joseph died before any of his brethren; see Gill on Genesis 50:26 and they gather it from these words; but it does not necessarily follow from hence, they might die some before him and some after him; and as they were all born in about seven years' time, excepting Benjamin, they might all die within a little time of each other: according to the Jewish writers F4 R. Bechai apud Shalshalet Hakabala, fol. 3. 2.... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 1:7

And the children of Israel were fruitful ,.... In their offspring; became like fruitful trees, as the word signifies: and increased abundantly ; like creeping things, or rather like fishes, which increase very much, see Genesis 1:20 . and multiplied ; became very numerous, whereby the promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, were fulfilled: and waxed exceeding mighty ; were hale, and strong, of good constitutions, able bodied men, and so more dreaded by the Egyptians: a heap... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 1:8

Now there arose up a new king over Egypt ,.... Stephen calls him another king, Acts 7:18 one of another family, according to Josephus F7 Antiqu. l. 2. c. 9. sect. 1. ; who was not of the seed royal, as Aben Ezra; and Sir John Marsham F8 Canon. Chron. Sec. 8. p. 107. thinks this was Salatis, who, according to Manetho F9 Apud Joseph. Contr. Apion. l. 1. sect. 14. , was the first of the Hycsi or pastor kings that ruled in lower Egypt; but these kings seem to have reigned... read more

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