Commentaries Dictionaries Concordances

Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary

Exodus 1:16

The stools; a seat used by women when ready to be delivered, conveniently framed for the midwife's better discharge of her office. Ye shall kill him, which it was not difficult for them to do without much observation. If it be a daughter, then she shall live; either,

1. Because he feared not them, but the males only; and some add, that he was advised by one of their magicians, that a male child should be born of the Israelites, who should be a dreadful scourge to the Egyptians. Or,

2. They reserved them for their lust, or for service, or for the increase of their people, and the raising of a fairer breed by them.

Continues after advertising

See also Exodus 1:16 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Exodus 1:16. _UPON THE STOOLS_] על האבנים _al haobnayim_. This is a difficult word, and occurs nowhere else in the Hebrew Bible but in Jeremiah 18:3, where we translate it the _potter's wheels_...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    UPON THE STOOLS - Literally, “two stones.” The word denotes a special seat, such as is represented on monuments of the 18th Dynasty, and is still used by Egyptian midwives....

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    ANALYSIS AND ANNOTATIONS I. ISRAEL'S DELIVERANCE OUT OF THE HANDS OF THE EGYPTIANS 1. The House of Bondage CHAPTER 1 _ 1. The names of the children of Israel; their increase (Exodus 1:1)_ 2. The...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    EXODUS 1:15 E ( EXODUS 1:20 B J). ATTEMPT TO DESTROY MALE CHILDREN. From another source we learn of two more ineffectual measures to restrict population. The two midwives, whose names tradition loved...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    SEE THEM UPON THE STOOLS— The word אבנים _abnim_ occurs only here, and Jeremiah 18:3. The LXX have not translated it. _IF IT BE A SON,—YE SHALL KILL HIM_— The order itself was inhuman enough; but it b...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    THE TEXT OF EXODUS TRANSLATION 1 Now these are the names of the sons of Is-ra-el, who came into E-gypt (every man and his household came with Jacob): (2) Reu-ben, Sim-e-on, Le-vi, and Ju-dah, (3) Is-s...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    _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._ When ye do t...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    1:16 stool, (d-17) Of uncertain meaning....

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    STOOLS] RV 'birthstool.'...

  • Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

    OPPRESSION OF THE ISRAELITES 5. Seventy souls] Jacob himself is included in the number: cp. Genesis 46:8. Of the seventy, sixty-eight were males. If to the direct descendants of Jacob we add the wives...

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    EXODUS: ISRAEL BECOMES A NATION THE *ISRAELITES LEAVE EGYPT EXODUS CHAPTER S 1 TO 18 _HILDA BRIGHT AND KITTY PRIDE_ ABOUT THE BOOK OF EXODUS Exodus is one of the first 5 books of the *Old Testa...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    UPON THE STOOLS. — Literally, _upon the two stones._ It has been suggested that a seat corresponding to the modern _hursee elwilâdeh_ is meant. This is a “chair of a peculiar form,” upon which in mode...

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    וַ יֹּ֗אמֶר בְּ יַלֶּדְכֶן֙ אֶת ־הָֽ עִבְרִיּ

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    THE OPPRESSION. Exodus 1:7. At the beginning of the history of Israel we find a prosperous race. It was indeed their growing importance, and chiefly their vast numerical increase, which excited the j...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    GOD PROTECTS HEBREW BABES FROM PHARAOH'S DECREE Exodus 1:15 Egypt's _second_ stroke of policy was to begin with the children. Pharaoh and Herod set us an example in turning their attention to young...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    The first word of Exodus, "Now," might with equal accuracy be rendered "And." Either word serves to suggest continuity. The story of Genesis is taken up in Exodus. It begins by recording the prolific...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _The time, &c. Hebrew, "and you shall see them upon the two stones." Abenaim. Jeremias (xviii. 3,) uses the same expression, speaking of a potter hard at work. (Calmet) --- A woman, from whom nothing...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    Is it not a mark of grace in these women? Proverbs 1:7. And was it not similar to the faith of Rahab? Hebrews 11:31....

  • Introductory Lectures - Commentary by William Kelly

    There is hardly a book of the Old Testament that stands out in more decided contrast with the book of Genesis than the one which follows it most closely. And this is the more striking, because God emp...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 1 AND 2. First, we have the historical circumstances which relate to the captivity of Israel-the persecutions which this people had to endure, and the provide...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    AND HE SAID, WHEN YE DO THE OFFICE OF A MIDWIFE TO THE HEBREW WOMEN,.... Deliver them of their children: AND SEE [THEM] UPON THE STOOLS; seats for women in labour to sit upon, and so contrived, that...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    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. Ver. 16....

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _The stools_ Seats used on that occasion. _But the midwives feared God_ Dreaded his wrath more than Pharaoh's, and therefore _saved the men-children alive. The Hebrew women are lively_ We have no reas...

  • KJV Original Language Details

    1 The children of Israel after Iosephs death do multiply. 8 The more they are oppressed by a new King, the more they multiply. 15 The godlines of the Midwiues, in sauing the men children aliue. 22...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    and he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools, in determining the sex; IF IT BE A SON, THEN YE SHALL KILL HIM, the male children should be killed ri...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    THE COMMAND TO KILL ALL THE MALE CHILDREN...

  • Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures

    EXODUS THE SECOND BOOK OF MOSES (וְאֵלֶּה שְׁמוֹת; _Ἐξοδος: Exodus_) THE PROPHETICO-MESSIANIC THEOCRACY—OR THE GENESIS, REDEMPTION AND SANCTIFICATION OF THE COVENANT PEOPLE FIRST DIVISION: MOSES AN...

  • Leslie M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible

    ISRAEL MULTIPLIED (vs.1-7) The first five verses of Exodus indicate its continuity with the book of Genesis, for they confirm what is written in more detail in Genesis 46:8. This small number of 70 p...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    15-22 The Egyptians tried to destroy Israel by the murder of their children. The enmity that is in the seed of the serpent, against the Seed of the woman, makes men forget all pity. It is plain that...

  • Notes on the Pentateuch by Charles Henry Mackintosh

    We now approach, by the mercy of God, the study of the Book of Exodus, of which the great prominent theme is redemption. The first five verses recall to the mind the closing scenes of the preceding bo...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Exodus 1:16 said H559 (H8799) midwife H3205 (H8763) women H5680 see H7200 (H8804) birthstools H70 son...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    PHARAOH SEEKS TO DESTROY ISRAEL THROUGH ITS MIDWIVES (EXODUS 1:15). a The king of Egypt calls on the Hebrew midwives who are told at births to slay sons and let the daughters live (Exodus 1:16). b T...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Israel in Egypt and their bondage. CHARACTERS: Joseph, Pharaoh, Shiprah, Puah. CONCLUSION: God's providences may at times seem to thwart His promises that His peoples' faith may be tried a...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Exodus 1:1. _The children of Israel._ Some think we should read here, the sons of Israel. Paul, Galatians 4:3; Galatians 4:5, makes a distinction between children and sons, in the words νηπιοι and υιο...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _The children of Israel were fruitful _ THE INCREASE OF THE CHURCH I. Notwithstanding the removal of its chief officer (Exodus 1:6). Joseph dead; his influence gone; his counsel inaccessible. To-day...

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    EXODUS—NOTE ON EXODUS 1:1 Exodus 1:1 of Israel from Egypt. The first half of Exodus 1:1 focuses on the

  • The ESV Global Study Bible's Study Notes

    EXODUS—NOTE ON EXODUS 1:15 The defiant actions of the HEBREW MIDWIVES show that they FEARED GOD (vv. Exodus 1:17,...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— Exodus 1:15. Hebrew midwives] It is curious, though it may not throw light on the precise relation in which these women stood to the Hebrew women, that their names should be of a lik...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION EXODUS 1:15-2 Some time—say five or six years—having elapsed and the Pharaoh's first plan having manifestly failed, it was necessary for him either to give up his purpose, or to devise som...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    and see them. or, rather, 'and ye see them by the Exodus 1:22 Matthew 21:38 Revelation 12:4...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    The stools — Seats used on that occasion....

  • When Critics Ask: A Popular Handbook on Bible Difficulties, Norman L. Geisler and Thomas Howe, 1960

    How could an all-loving God command the Hebrews to plunder the Egyptians of their riches? PROBLEM: Exodus 3:22 states, “So you shall plunder the Egyptians.” The Bible presents God as all-loving. Howe...

Continues after advertising