Exodus 1:8-14

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 1:8

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 1:12

But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew ,.... Became more numerous, "and broke out" F2 יפיץ "erumpebat", Junius & Tremellius, Drusius, Tigurine version. , as it may be rendered, like water which breaks out and spreads itself; so the Israelites, increasing in number, spread themselves still more in the land; the Egyptians thought, by putting them to hard labour in building cities, to have weakened their strength, and made them unfit for the procreation... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 1:13

And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour . Or with breach F3 בפרך "in fractione", Cajetan. apud Rivet. , with what might tend to break their strength; they laid heavier burdens upon them, obliged them to harder service, used them more cruelly and with greater fierceness, adding to their hard service ill words, and perhaps blows. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 1:14

And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage ,.... So that they had no ease of body nor peace of mind; they had no comfort of life, their lives and mercies were embittered to them: in mortar and in brick, and in all manner of service of the field ; if Pelusium was one of the cities they built, that had its name from clay, the soil about it being clayish, and where the Israelites might be employed in making brick for the building of that and other cities: Josephus F4 Antiqu. l.... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 1:8

There arose up a new king - Who this was it is difficult to say. It was probably Ramesses Miamun, or his son Amenophis, who succeeded him in the government of Egypt about A. M. 2400, before Christ 1604. Which knew not Joseph - The verb ידע yada , which we translate to know, often signifies to acknowledge or approve. See Judges 2:10 ; Psalm 1:6 ; Psalm 31:7 ; Hosea 2:8 ; Amos 3:2 . The Greek verbs ειδω and γινωσκω are used precisely in the same sense in the New... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 1:9

He said unto his people - He probably summoned a council of his nobles and elders to consider the subject; and the result was to persecute and destroy them, as is afterwards stated. read more

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