_A.M. 2298. B.C. 1706._ We have here, (1,) _ God's kindness to Israel, in multiplying them exceedingly, Exodus 1:1._ (2,) _ The Egyptians' wickedness to them; 1, Oppressing and enslaving them, Exodus 1:8; Exodus 1:2, Murdering their children, Exodus 1:15._... [ Continue Reading ]
_These are the names_ This list of names is here repeated, that by comparing this small root with the multitude of branches which arose from it, we may see and acknowledge the wonderful providence of God in the fulfilment of his promises. _Every man and his household_ That is, his children and grand... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Benjamin_ Who, though youngest of all, is placed before Dan, Naphtali, &c., because they were the children of the hand-maidens.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Seventy souls_ Or persons, according to the computation we had, Genesis 46:27, including Joseph and his two sons. This was just the number of the nations by which the earth was peopled, (Genesis 10.,) for when “God separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number... [ Continue Reading ]
_All that generation_ By degrees wore off. Perhaps all Jacob's sons died much about the same time, for there was not past seven years' difference in age between the eldest and the youngest of them, except Benjamin.... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly_ Like fishes or insects, as one of the words here used signifies, and being generally healthful and strong, they _waxed exceeding mighty_, so that _the land was filled with them_ At least Goshen, their own allotment. This wonderful... [ Continue Reading ]
_There arose a new king_ One of another family, according to Josephus; for it appears from ancient writers that the kingdom of Egypt often passed from one family to another. _That knew not Joseph_ All that knew him loved him, and were kind to his relations for his sake; but when he was dead he was s... [ Continue Reading ]
_Come on, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply_ When men deal _wickedly_, it is common for them to imagine that they deal _wisely_, but the folly of sin will at last be _manifested before all men. They set over them task-masters, to afflict them_ With this very design. They not only made... [ Continue Reading ]
_The more they multiplied_ To the grief and vexation of the Egyptians. The original expression, rendered _grew_, is very emphatical, יפרצ _jiphrots._ They broke forth and _expanded themselves with impetuosity_, like a river swollen with the rains, whose waters increase and gain strength by being co... [ Continue Reading ]
_With rigour_ בפרךְ _bepareck, with cruelty_, or _tyranny;_ with hard words and cruel usage, without mercy or mitigation. This God permitted for wise and just reasons: 1st, As a punishment of the idolatry into which, it appears, many of them had fallen: 2d, To wean them from the land of Egypt, which... [ Continue Reading ]
_In mortar and brick_ It has been supposed by many, that, besides the _treasure-cities_, mentioned Exodus 1:11, and other similar works, the Israelites were employed in raising those enormous piles, termed pyramids, which remain to this day, and probably will remain to the end of the world; “monumen... [ Continue Reading ]
_The king spake to the Hebrew midwives_ The two chief of them. They are called Hebrew midwives, probably not because they were themselves Hebrews; for sure Pharaoh could never expect they should be so barbarous to those of their own nation; but because they were generally made use of among the Hebre... [ Continue Reading ]
_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 reason to doubt the truth of this; it is plain they were now under an extraordinary blessing of increase... [ Continue Reading ]
_God dealt well with the midwives he made them houses _ He blessed them in kind: for as they kept up Israel's houses or families, so God, in recompense, built them up into families, blessed their children, and made them prosperous. But a late learned writer interprets the passage as follows: Pharaoh... [ Continue Reading ]