Exodus 1

I. Ver. 1—22. Pharaoh persecutes the Israelites.— A new king arose, that knew not Joseph, and probably a new dynasty, for the Egyptian monarchy at this period is said to have been elective; and historians calculate that seven kings had reigned, and nearly sixty years elapsed, between the death of Joseph and this period; a space of time more than sufficient to obliterate his memory at court. In the mean time, the Israelites rapidly increased, so as to alarm the government, and to induce this jealous monarch to adopt a narrow and barbarous policy for their destruction. First, they were oppressed with hard and incessant labour; then the Hebrew midwives were tampered with, to destroy their male children in the birth; but they feared God, and would not be murderers.

The excuse they made to the king was probably founded in fact; and no sooner was the cruel decree known, than the women would doubtless run any risk, or assist each other, rather than sacrifice their offspring. A severer decree, therefore, “charged all his people” to drown the male children in the Nile, which was doubtless executed with sufficient rigour. “The voice of lamentation was heard throughout the land; Rachel weeping for her children, refused to be comforted because they were not.” Day after day, the sun arose and set in blood. In childbirth, the mother felt the double pangs of nature: she no longer rejoiced when a man-child was born into the world, as the recompense of her pains: she could no longer look forward with a pleasing hope, and say, “This same shall comfort us concerning our work, and the toil of our hands:” the moment the infant beheld the light, the stern decree of the inhuman monarch consigned it to a (watery) grave!’ Collyer’s Script. Facts.

Chap. I. Ver. 1-17. The various burnt-offerings.—In the avired to be a male without blemish fe er. 4. He shall put his hand, &c.—This is the first express mention laying the hand (or hands, (Exodus 16:21).) upon the head of the victim. Ainsworth says, “He that imposeth, layeth his hands between the two ole and confesseth, upon the sin-offering, the iniquity of sin; and upon the spass-offering, the =e of trespass; and upon the burnt-offering, the iniquity of doing that he should not, and not doing that he ought,” &c.—Ainsworth applies reconciliation, and is applied, (Genesis 32:20) to appeasing the angry countenance of Esau.

Ver. 6. He shall flay.—As the skin was to be the priest’s, it is natural to suppose, that he and his servants performed such offices; though it is probable the offerer might be required to take part in them. Ver. 7. The sons of Aaron shall put fire on the altar.—That is, shall supply it from the sacred fire in the tabernacle, (Clarke;) or perhaps it means, to keep up the fire by a supply of wood. So Ainsworth.

Notes on the verses

Ver. 7. Increased abundantly.—Hebrew, “Increased like fishes, (see Note on (Genesis 1:21).) and waxed mighty exceedingly, exceedingly.” Aristotle speaks of the Egyptian women as bringing forth two, three, or four children at a birth. And Mallet, who resided sixteen years in Egypt, says, “the females exceed all others in the world for fruitfulness.” But the text speaks not of Egyptians, but of Hebrew women, who, on the testimony of their own midwives, had easier and speedier labours, and, by consequence, were more fruitful. See ver. 19.

Ver. 8. A new king.—Probably Rameses Miamun, who commenced a new dynasty, A. M. 2427, and reigned sixty-seven years. [Or his son Amenophis, who succeeded him about this period; and by his not knowing Joseph is meant his not acknowledging his obligation to him.]—Bagster.

Ver. 11. To afflict them with their burdens.—Aristotle says, that it is the custom of tyrants to oppress their subjects by daily labour, that they may not have time to plan rebellion. On this principle, Tarquin the Proud employed the Romans in digging the subterraneous canals, or drains, in Rome. And R. Knox says, the king of Ceylon employed his people in immense works, to accustom them to servitude, and prevent insurrection.—Orient. Lit. They built them treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.—Pithom is thought to be Patumus, near the Arabian Gulf; and Raamses, (or Rameses, for the word in Hebrew is the same,) Pelusium, called in (Ezekiel 30:15). “the strength of Egypt;” but the LXX. and the Coptic explain it of On, which is Heliopolis. Both these places are mentioned in Genesis, and it is not necessary to suppose that these were now founded; but rather, that being found convenient situations the king employed the Israelites in building immense erections, called treasuries: but whether they were granaries, or depositories for other riches, does not appear. Josephus, indeed, (Antiq. lib. ii. cap. 9.) speaks of their being employed upon the pyramids, but unluckily the principal pyramids turn out to be built of stone, and the Israelites worked in brick and mortar. The pyramids of Saccara are, indeed, supposed by Bruce to be of clay; and these probably were the first erected. Josephus adds, that they were employed in canals, fortifications, and of Egypt, even as are of the Roman emperors. But every king had also his other public works.

Pharaoh.—This was the common name of the kings, not a peculiar name. It says, Pharaoh, in the Egyptian language, meant a palace.—Calmet’s Dict.

Ver. 14. In mortar and in brick,—First digging the clay, kneading and preparing it; and, secondly, forming them into bricks, drying them in the sun, &c.—Dr. Clarke. The word used for mortar, is generally rendered bitumen, or asphaltus. See Notes on (Genesis 6:14). xi. 3.

Ver. 15. Hebrew midwives.—Two only are named, as probably the principal, and having control over the rest; for certainly two would be very inadequate to such a number of women. It is probable, however, as the Hebrew women were stronger, that the lower classes did not generally employ them, except after this decree. We may suppose they would rather run any risk than do it.

Ver. 16. See them upon the stools.—[Or rather, “and ye see them by the stone-troughs;” for so ovnayim, from aven, a stone, seems to signify, (compare ch. vii. 19.) in which they washed the new-born infants. See this subject fully illustrated in Fragments to Calmet, Nos. 312, 313.]—Bagster.

Ver. 19. They are lively.—“Strong, hale, vigorous.”—Dr. Clarke. The very circumstance of their being put to hard labour, especially out of doors, tended to make them so. There is therefore no reason to suppose the midwives told a falsehood.

Ver. 21. He made them houses.—That is, built up their families. See exposition of (Genesis 16:2).

Ver. 22. Every son… “ye shall cast into the river.”—Infanticide (or infant murder) has been practised in many arbitrary countries. Thevenot mentions some extraordinary instances in Persia.—(Fragments to Calmet, No. 312.) It still prevails, both in China and in India; and in the latter, notwithstanding great exertions to put it down. And missionaries to the South Sea Islands found it there very prevalent, and it was only suppressed by the establishment of Christianity. The destruction was, however, generally of daughters, not of sons. See Cormack’s Female Infanticide.