Verses 15-16
15, 16. A second and far more cruel edict now went forth . Herodotus shows (vol . 2:84) that medical theory and practice were highly perfected in Egypt, medical specialties being carefully cultivated; and the monuments show that the women were accoucheurs. Shiphrah and Puah were superintendents of the midwives, and are here designated the midwives, as Pharaoh’s chief butler and baker are called the butler and baker in Genesis 11:1. This orderly superintendence of all industries is abundantly illustrated on the Theban tombs.
When ye… see them upon the stools When ye look upon the birth, ( Targ. Onk.) At the very moment of birth they were to destroy the child, if a male, as they could easily do even before the mother had seen it. This edict was probably aimed specially at the leading families of Israel, for such only would be likely to employ a professional midwife. See Concluding Notes. (2.)
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