Exodus 1

Exodus 1:19

19.—for they are lively, &c.] Many of the Hebrew women may have been such as here described, if not all. The answer of the midwives is therefore so far from being, as sometimes represented, an unworthy falsehood to save their lives, that it is a bold confession of their faith and piety to the hazard of them: purporting that they saw so plain an evidence of the wonderful hand of God in that extraordinary vigour in the travail of the women, that, do what Pharaoh would, they durst not, would not, obey him, because they would not strive against God. Dr. Lightfoot.

Exodus 1:21

21.—he made them houses.] That is, He blessed the midwives with a peculiar increase of their own families and estates. Pyle. Others refer them to the Israelites, understanding the sense to be, “God by these means unleashed and increased the Israelites,” which is expressed by “making them houses.” Bp. Kidder.

Exodus 1:22

22. And Pharaoh charged all his people, &c.] This decree was in force at the birth of Moses, sixty-four years after the death of Joseph; and was probably enacted soon after the birth of his elder brother Aaron, three years earlier, who was not subject to the decree. We may date it therefore about the thirty-second year of their bondage; and about an hundred and thirtythree years after their settlement. Dr. Hales. Chap. II. ver. 1.—there went a man &c.] The name of the father of Moses was Amram; and his mother’s name was Jochebed, chap. vi. 20. They were both of the tribe of Levi. Aaron, his elder brother, was three years older than he; and Miriam, his sister, probably seven or eight years older than Aaron. Calmat.