Exodus 1:5-22 NIV

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 1:15-22

The Egyptians? indignation at Israel's increase, notwithstanding the many hardships they put upon them, drove them at length to the most barbarous and inhuman methods of suppressing them, by the murder of their children. It was strange that they did not rather pick quarrels with the grown men, against whom they might perhaps find some occasion: to be thus bloody towards the infants, whom all must own to be innocents, was a sin which they had to cloak for. Note, 1. There is more cruelty in the... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 1:9

And he said unto his people ,.... His princes, nobles, and courtiers about him, his principal ministers of state: behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we : which could not be true in fact, but is said to stir up his nobles to attend to what he was about to say, and to work upon them to take some speedy measures for the crushing of this people; for that they were more in number, and mightier in power and wealth than the Egyptians, it was impossible; and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 1:10

Come on ,.... Which is a word of exhortation, stirring up to a quick dispatch of business, without delay, the case requiring haste, and some speedy and a matter of indifference: let us deal wisely with them ; form some wise schemes, take some crafty methods to weaken and diminish them gradually; not with open force of arms, but in a more private and secret manner, and less observed: lest they multiply ; yet more and more, so that in time it may be a very difficult thing to keep them... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 1:11

Therefore they did set taskmasters over them, to afflict them with their burdens ,.... This was the first scheme proposed and agreed on, and was carried into execution, to appoint taskmasters over them; or "princes", or "masters of tribute" F18 שרי מסים "principes tributorum", Pagninus, Montanus, Fagius, Drusius, Cartwright; so Tigurine version. , commissioners of taxes, who had power to lay heavy taxes upon them, and oblige them to pay them, which were very burdensome, and so... read more

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

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

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 1:15-22

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

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

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 1:9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 1:10

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 1:11

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