[[Genesis 50|<< Genesis 50]] | [[Exodus|Exodus]] | [[Exodus 2|Exodus 2 >>]] ### Exodus 1 1 NOW these _are_ the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob. ^1 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, ^2 3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, ^3 4 Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. ^4 5 And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt _already_. ^5 6 And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation. ^6 7 ¶ And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. ^7 8 Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. ^8 9 And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel _are_ more and mightier than we: ^9 10 Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falls out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and _so_ get them up out of the land. ^10 11 Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. ^11 12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel. ^12 13 And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour: ^13 14 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. ^14 15 ¶ And the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one _was_ Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah: ^15 16 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. ^16 17 But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive. ^17 18 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? ^18 19 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. ^19 20 Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty. ^20 21 And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses. ^21 22 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. ^22