Exodus, 1
The Israelites are multiplied in Egypt. They are oppressed by a new king, who commandeth all their male children to be killed.
[1] These are the names of the children of Israel, that went into Egypt with Jacob: they went in every man with his household: •
[2] Ruben, Simeon, Levi, Juda, •
[3] Issachar, Zabulon, and Benjamin, •
[4] Dan, and Nephthali, Gad and Aser.
[5] And all the souls that came out of Jacob's thigh, were seventy: but Joseph was in Egypt. •
[6] After he was dead, and all his brethren, and all that generation, •
[7] The children of Israel increased, and sprung up into multitudes, and growing exceedingly strong they filled the land. •
[8] In the mean time there arose a new king over Egypt, that knew not Joseph: •
[9] And he said to his people: Behold the people of the children of Israel are numerous and stronger than we. •
[10] Come let us wisely oppress them, lest they multiply: and if any war shall rise against us, join with our enemies, and having overcome us, depart out of the land.
[11] Therefore he set over them masters of the works, to afflict them with burdens: and they built for Pharao cities of tabernacles 1, Phithom, and Ramesses. •
Of tabernacles: Or, of storehouses.
[12] But the more they oppressed them, the more they were multiplied and increased.
[13] And the Egyptians hated the children of Israel, and afflicted them and mocked them:
[14] And they made their life bitter with hard works in clay and brick, and with all manner of service, wherewith they were overcharged in the works of the earth. •
[15] And the king of Egypt spoke to the midwives of the Hebrews: of whom one was called Sephora, the other Phua, •
[16] Commanding them: When you shall do the office of midwives to the Hebrew women, and the time of delivery is come: if it be a man child, kill it: if a woman, keep it alive. •
[17] But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded, but saved the men children.
[18] And the king called for them and said: What is it that you meant to do, that you would save the men children?
[19] They answered: The Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women: for they themselves are skilful in the office of a midwife; and they are delivered before we come to them. •
[20] Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied and grew exceedingly strong.
[21] And because the midwives feared God 1, he built them houses. •
Because the midwives feared God: The midwives were rewarded, not for their lie, which was a venial sin; but for their fear of God, and their humanity: but this reward was only temporal, in building them houses, that is, in establishing and enriching their families.
[22] Pharao therefore charged all his people, saying: Whatsoever shall be born of the male sex, ye shall cast into the river: whatsoever of the female, ye shall save alive. •