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Exodus 1

22 verses

TL;DR

The chapter recounts the increase of the Israelites in Egypt, the fear and oppression by a new Pharaoh, and the courageous acts of the Hebrew midwives who defied the king's decree to kill newborn Hebrew boys.

Summary

Exodus 1 opens with a list of the twelve sons of Jacob and notes that the Israelites had grown to seventy individuals before Joseph's death. After Joseph's passing, Israel multiplied, becoming a powerful presence in Egypt. A new Pharaoh, unaware of Joseph's legacy, feared Israel's strength and feared potential alliances with enemies, so he imposed harsh labor and built cities for tribute. The Egyptians forced the Israelites into severe bondage, demanding they produce hard work in mortar, bricks, and field labor. Pharaoh issued a cruel order to the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, to kill male Hebrew infants but spare females. The midwives, fearing God, defied Pharaoh and saved the male babies. Pharaoh questioned them, but they explained the resilience of Hebrew women. God blessed the midwives, granting them homes, and the Israelites continued to grow. Pharaoh then commanded that every Hebrew newborn son be cast into the river, while daughters were spared. This sets the stage for Israel’s oppression and the upcoming divine deliverance.

Outline
  1. Listing of Israelite tribes and population growth
  2. Rise of a new Pharaoh and his fear of Israelite strength
  3. Implementation of harsh labor and building projects
  4. Issuance of a decree to kill Hebrew male infants
  5. Midwives' defiance, divine reward, and Pharaoh’s continued oppression
Themes
Oppression and human crueltyFaith and defiance against unjust authorityDivine protection and blessing
Keywords
IsraelEgyptPharaohmidwivesoppressionfaithdivine blessingpopulationbirthfreedom
People
JacobReubenSimeonLeviJudahIssacharZebulunBenjaminDanNaphtaliGadAsherJosephPharaohShiphrahPuahHebrew womenmidwives
Places
EgyptPithomRaamsesRiver (Nile)land
Things
treasure citiesmortarbrickmidwives' housesriverHebrew infants
Key Verses
  • Exodus 1:5: Marks the number of Israelites before Joseph’s death, setting the baseline for their growth.
  • Exodus 1:8: Introduces the new Pharaoh’s fear and the political context for Israel’s oppression.
  • Exodus 1:17: Shows the midwives’ courageous defiance, a pivotal moment of faith.
  • Exodus 1:20: Demonstrates God’s blessing in response to the midwives’ obedience.
  • Exodus 1:22: Displays Pharaoh’s cruelty and the escalating threat to Israelite survival.
Questions
  • Why did the midwives choose to defy Pharaoh’s order?
  • How does the growth of Israel under oppression serve God’s larger plan?
  • What does Pharaoh’s fear reveal about the political dynamics of Egypt?
  • In what ways does the text portray divine intervention in human affairs?
  • How might the story of the midwives inspire modern readers facing unjust authority?
Sentiment

mixed
Contains both negative oppression and positive divine support.