Analysis of Exodus Chapter 1
The first chapter of the Book of Exodus serves as a crucial bridge between the Genesis narrative and the unfolding saga of Israel’s bondage and eventual liberation. This chapter sets the stage for the dramatic events that will follow, introducing key themes and characters that are central to the Exodus story. In this analysis, we will examine the significant elements of Exodus 1, offering a deep and insightful interpretation of the verses, and highlighting their importance within the broader biblical context.
Verses 1-7: The Multiplication of the Israelites in Egypt
Verses 1-6: The chapter begins by listing the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob. These twelve sons, along with their households, form the foundation of the Israelite presence in Egypt. This recollection ties directly back to the closing chapters of Genesis, where Jacob’s family moved to Egypt during a time of famine under Joseph’s protection.
“Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob. Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already. And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation.” (Exodus 1:1-6)
The enumeration of these names serves several purposes. First, it roots the narrative in historical continuity, emphasizing the lineage of the twelve tribes of Israel. This list serves as a reminder of God’s promise to the patriarchs—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—concerning their descendants. Secondly, it highlights the providential care that God extended to Jacob’s family by bringing them to Egypt, a place where they would grow and multiply.
Verse 7: The narrative then shifts to a broader scope, detailing the tremendous growth of the Israelites in Egypt:
“And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.” (Exodus 1:7)
This verse echoes the language of God’s initial command to Adam and Eve in Genesis 1:28 to “be fruitful and multiply,” suggesting a divine blessing upon the nation of Israel. The words “increased abundantly,” “multiplied,” and “waxed exceeding mighty” not only emphasize the physical growth of the Israelites but also their burgeoning might and significance within Egypt. The statement that “the land was filled with them” indicates that their presence was substantial and unignorable, setting the stage for the reaction from the Egyptians.
Verses 8-14: The New King and the Subjugation of Israel
Verse 8: The text introduces a pivotal turning point with the rise of a new Egyptian king:
“Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.” (Exodus 1:8)
This new pharaoh’s ignorance of Joseph suggests a rupture in the historical memory of Egypt. Joseph, the Hebrew who rose to power and saved Egypt from famine, was no longer a remembered or respected figure. This lack of acknowledgment indicates a significant shift in the political and social climate of Egypt—a regime change that would bring about hardship for the Israelites.
Verses 9-10: The new king perceives the growth of the Israelites as a threat:
“And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.” (Exodus 1:9-10)
The pharaoh’s concerns reveal a blend of fear and strategic thinking. His statement reflects a common motif in history where a ruling power feels threatened by the rapid growth and potential influence of a minority population. Pharaoh’s use of the word “wisely” implies a calculated strategy to suppress the Israelites’ power and prevent them from becoming an internal threat or aligning with external enemies.
Verses 11-14: In response to these fears, the Egyptians impose harsh measures:
“Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel. And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour: And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.” (Exodus 1:11-14)
The implementation of oppressive labor was intended to curtail the growth and influence of the Israelites. Taskmasters were appointed to enforce severe workloads, and the Israelites were compelled to participate in large-scale construction projects, notably the cities of Pithom and Raamses. Despite this oppression, the narrative notes paradoxically that the more the Israelites were afflicted, the more they multiplied and grew. This counterintuitive outcome underscores the resilience and divine favor upon the Israelites, frustrating the Egyptians’ attempts at subjugation.
The use of “rigour” twice in these verses emphasizes the intensity of the oppression. The term in Hebrew carries connotations of harshness and severity. The bitterness of their lives reflects the depth of their suffering. The forced labor went beyond mere construction projects, extending to all forms of manual labor in the fields, highlighting the comprehensive nature of their bondage.
Verses 15-21: The Hebrew Midwives and Their Courage
Verses 15-16: In a further bid to control the Israelite population, Pharaoh enacts a drastic measure:
“And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah: And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.” (Exodus 1:15-16)
Pharaoh’s decree to the Hebrew midwives to kill male infants at birth reveals the extreme lengths to which he was willing to go to suppress the Israelite population. This infanticide policy specifically targeted boys, who were perceived as future soldiers and a greater threat to Egyptian hegemony. Naming the midwives—Shiphrah and Puah—imparts a sense of personal courage and individual resistance within the broader narrative of national suffering.
Verses 17-19: However, the midwives’ response is one of defiance:
“But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive. And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive? And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them.” (Exodus 1:17-19)
The midwives’ fear of God is contrasted with the fear of Pharaoh, positioning their allegiance to divine authority above their obedience to earthly power. Their courage in preserving the lives of the male infants reflects a profound moral and theological stance, one that values life and divine commandments over human decrees. Their explanation to Pharaoh—that Hebrew women give birth quickly—can be seen as both an act of cunning and a testimony to the divine favor and vitality bestowed upon the Israelites.
Verses 20-21: The narrative concludes this section with a note of blessing and divine reward:
“Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty. And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.” (Exodus 1:20-21)
God’s favorable treatment of the midwives underscores a central biblical theme: divine justice and reward for those who act righteously. Their actions not only contribute to the continued growth and strength of the Israelites but also result in personal blessings—”houses” likely referring to their own families and posterity, secure and established by God’s providence.
Verse 22: Pharaoh’s Final Decree
Verse 22: In the face of the midwives’ defiance, Pharaoh issues a more general and draconian decree:
“And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.” (Exodus 1:22)
This final verse in the chapter highlights the escalating severity of Pharaoh’s oppression. By commanding all his people to participate in the killing of Hebrew boys, Pharaoh transforms the policy of infanticide from the covert actions of midwives to a public, societal mandate. This broadening of the decree indicates both the depth of Pharaoh’s fear of the Israelites and his determination to suppress them by any means necessary.
The command to cast the boys into the Nile River is particularly poignant, as the Nile was a source of life and sustenance for Egypt. This perversion of the life-giving river into an instrument of death encapsulates the profound moral corruption and desperation of Pharaoh’s regime. It sets the stage for the dramatic and miraculous events to follow, as Moses, who will eventually lead the Israelites to freedom, is born under this decree and will be placed in the very river intended for his destruction.
Conclusion
Exodus Chapter 1 serves as a foundational prologue to the central themes of the Exodus narrative: oppression, divine providence, human courage, and the fulfillment of God’s promises. The chapter meticulously details the increasing affliction of the Israelites, their resilience and growth despite this oppression, and the courageous actions of individuals such as the Hebrew midwives. It sets the stage for the birth of Moses and the extraordinary deliverance that God will enact for His people.
Through this chapter, the reader is introduced to the stark contrasts between fear of God and fear of man, between life and death, and between the oppressive regimes of earthly powers and the liberating governance of divine authority. Exodus 1 calls the reader to recognize the enduring power of God’s promises and the ultimate triumph of His will over human opposition. It reinforces the biblical message that in the face of adversity, divine faithfulness and human courage can bring forth miraculous deliverance and hope.