Exodus 1

Exodus 1:2

It has been customary with many nations to embalm the dead bodies of persons of rank, taking out the bowels, and so seasoning the body with salt and spices, &c. as to preserve it long from putrefaction. In Egypt they carried this art to such a degree, that bodies embalmed remained uncorrupted for thousands of years; which are now sometimes sold in Europe under the name of mummies

Exodus 1:3

It was the custom of the Egyptians to mourn seventy days for their dead, and of the Hebrews to mourn seven; 1 Sam. xxxi. 13; and just so long the joy of the latter lasted at their solemn weddings; chap. xxix. 27. Judg. xiv

Exodus 1:17

Ver. 10. Beyond Jordan, in the books of Moses, denotes the west side of Jordan, as he delivered his writings on the east of it. In other parts of scripture, the phrase denotes the east of Jordan, as the writers lived on the west of it. Some, however, think that the Hebrew word signifies either beyond or on this side. Contains an account, (1) Of God’s kindness to the Israelites in multiplying them exceedingly; 1—7. (2) Of the Egyptians’ cruelty to them on that account, in oppressing them with hard labour and in appointing the midwives and others to murder their male children, 8—16, 18, 22. (3) Of God’s more abundant multiplication of them, and rewarding the midwives’ refusal to murder their babes; 12, 17—21. Gen. 29, 31— 35. & 30. 1— 24. & 46. 8— 26. & 49. 3— 27. & 35. 22— —28. (5, 6, 14— —16. 1 Chr. 2, 1, 2. & 12. 23— —40. & 27. 16—22. NOW these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob. 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Before Christ1635. 3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, • Heb. thigh. 4 Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. Gen. 46. 27.Dent. 10. 22.Acts 7. 14. 5 And all the souls that came out ofthe *loins of Jacob were *seventy souls;for Joseph was in Egypt already. Gen. 50. 24,26. Acts 7. 15—17. 6 And *Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation. cir. 1635.Gen. 12. 2. &13. 16. & 15.5.& 17. 4. 5. 6. 16.& 22. 17. 426.4. 8. 28. 4. 14.& 6. 11. 446.3. & 17. 27. Pa.105. 23. 24.Dent. 10. 22.& 26. 5. Neb9. 23. ch. 12.37. Acts 7. 17. 7 *And the children of Israel werefruitful, and increased abundantly, andmultiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty;and the land was filled with them. CHAP. I. Ver. 8. Perhaps this king pertained to a new family, which obtained the throne about an hundred years after the Hebrews went down to Egypt. Ver. 10. The Israelites about this time began their compliance with the Egyptian idolatry, for which God justly punished them by the hand of the Egyptians; Josh. xxiv. 14. Ezek. xx. 7, 8. and xxiii. 8. Ps. cv. 25. Ver. 11. Perhaps these cities were not only intended for depositing the stores of the country, but also for protecting it from the Arabs, Philistines, and others on the north-east, or for retaining the Hebrews in their bondage

Exodus 1:19

Probably, by virtue of the special assistance of God, it was really so with many of the Hebrew women

Exodus 1:21

While God exceedingly multiplied the Hebrews, he increased the families and happiness of the midwives

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAP. I.—One generation quickly passes away, and another comes. Those who wax great or numerous should therefore remember their original meanness. Remarkable is the birth of God’s promise when its full time comes. In 215 years Abraham’s promised seed had increased to 70 persons: in as many more they are increased to about 3,000,000. Services done to men are soon forgotten, but those done to God are had in everlasting remembrance. At the same time God’s kindness often sharpens men’s cruelty. And to what horrid and savage barbarity their selfish designs often push them! But it is vain for devils or men to contend with the Lord. Their best-laid attempts against his designs will but promote their accomplishment: and God’s church often thrives best in the fiery furnace of troubles, continued one after another. Let me therefore always depend on God; always obey God rather than man. Never let such as are barbarous themselves make me an instrument of their cruelty: for, if I hide or help God’s outcasts in the day of their distress, he is not unfaithful to forget my labour of love, and may perhaps repay me in kind