Exodus 1

King James Version

Full text for Exodus Chapter 1

1¶ Now these [are] the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob.

2Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,

3Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,

4Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

5And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt [already].

6And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation.

7And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.

8¶ Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.

9And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel [are] more and mightier than we:

10Come 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.

11Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.

12But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.

13And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour:

14And 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.

15¶ 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:

16And 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.

17But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.

18And 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?

19And 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.

20Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.

21And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.

22And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

Exodus 1 begins by listing Jacob's descendants who came into Egypt, noting their rapid multiplication after Joseph's death. A new Pharaoh, unaware of Joseph, feared their growing numbers and oppressed them with harsh labor. When this failed to curb their growth, he commanded Hebrew midwives to kill all male infants, but they defied him, leading Pharaoh to order all male babies cast into the river.

Medium Summary

The chapter opens by recounting the seventy souls of Jacob's household who entered Egypt. Following the death of Joseph and his generation, the children of Israel became exceedingly fruitful, multiplying greatly and filling the land. Subsequently, a new king arose in Egypt who did not acknowledge Joseph's legacy. Fearing the Israelites' increasing strength and numbers, he implemented a policy of severe oppression, appointing taskmasters to burden them with forced labor, including building treasure cities like Pithom and Raamses. However, the more they were afflicted, the more the Israelites multiplied, vexing the Egyptians. Pharaoh then escalated his efforts, commanding the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, to kill all newborn Hebrew sons. Yet, the midwives, fearing God, disobeyed the king's decree, saving the male children, for which God blessed them. Ultimately, Pharaoh issued a public decree for all Egyptian people to cast every Hebrew male infant into the Nile River.

Long Summary

Exodus chapter one commences with a detailed enumeration of the children of Israel, seventy souls in total, who accompanied Jacob into Egypt, including Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. After the passing of Joseph and his entire generation, the descendants of Israel experienced extraordinary demographic growth, becoming exceedingly fruitful, multiplying abundantly, and waxing mighty, to the extent that the land was filled with them. In time, a new king ascended to the throne of Egypt, one who had no knowledge or regard for Joseph's past contributions. Observing the vast and powerful Israelite population, this Pharaoh expressed concern to his people, fearing that their continued multiplication might lead them to align with enemies during wartime and escape the land. Consequently, he initiated a policy of harsh subjugation, appointing taskmasters to impose grievous burdens upon them, compelling them to construct treasure cities named Pithom and Raamses. Paradoxically, the more the Egyptians afflicted the Israelites, the more the Israelites multiplied and grew, causing the Egyptians great distress and making their lives bitter with rigorous servitude in mortar, brick, and field labor. Undeterred, the king of Egypt then issued a more direct and sinister command to the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, instructing them to kill every male child born to Hebrew women, while allowing daughters to live. However, these midwives, demonstrating a profound fear of God, chose to disobey the king's unrighteous decree and preserved the lives of the male infants. When Pharaoh summoned them to account for their defiance, the midwives explained that Hebrew women were "lively" and delivered children before the midwives could arrive. Because the midwives feared God, He dealt well with them and established their households, and the people of Israel continued to multiply and wax very mighty. Ultimately, Pharaoh, frustrated by the midwives' resistance and the Israelites' continued growth, escalated his genocidal policy, charging all his people to cast every newborn Hebrew son into the river, while sparing the daughters.

Core Concepts

  • Israel's MultiplicationThe chapter highlights the rapid and abundant increase of the children of Israel in Egypt, who "multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty," filling the land despite their initial small numbers.
  • Pharaoh's Fear and OppressionA new Egyptian king, ignorant of Joseph, became fearful of the Israelites' growing numbers and strength. He initiated a policy of severe affliction, enslaving them with harsh labor to curb their population and prevent their potential alliance with enemies.
  • Forced Labor and Treasure CitiesAs part of Pharaoh's oppressive measures, the Israelites were subjected to rigorous servitude under taskmasters. They were compelled to build "treasure cities," specifically Pithom and Raamses, through bitter toil in mortar and brick.
  • Midwives' Disobedience and Fear of GodPharaoh commanded the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, to kill all newborn Hebrew male infants. However, the midwives, prioritizing their "fear of God" over the king's decree, courageously disobeyed him and saved the male children.
  • Divine Blessing for ObedienceBecause the midwives "feared God" and defied Pharaoh's wicked command, God "dealt well with the midwives" and "made them houses," signifying His favor and blessing upon them for their righteous actions.
  • Escalation of GenocideAfter the midwives' defiance and the continued growth of Israel, Pharaoh escalated his genocidal decree. He commanded all his people to cast every newborn Hebrew son into the Nile River, aiming to eradicate the male population.