The Israelites Multiply in Egypt

(Genesis 46:8-27)

1These are the names of the children of Israel, that went into Egypt with Jacob: they went in, every man with his household: 2Ruben, Simeon, Levi, Juda, 3Issachar, Zabulon, and Benjamin, 4Dan, and Nephtali, Gad and Aser. 5And all the souls that came out of Jacob's thigh, were seventy: but Joseph was in Egypt. 6After he was dead, and all his brethren, and all that generation, 7The children of Israel increased, and sprung up into multitudes, and growing exceedingly strong they filled the land.

Oppression by a New Pharaoh

8In the mean time there arose a new king over Egypt, that knew not Joseph: 9And he said to his people: Behold the people of the children of Israel are numerous and stronger than we. 10Come, let us wisely oppress them, lest they multiply: and if any war shall rise against us, join with our enemies, and having overcome us, depart out of the land. 11Therefore he set over them masters of the works, to afflict them with burdens, and they built for Pharao cities of tabernacles, Phithom and Ramesses. 12But the more they oppressed them, the more they were multiplied, and increased: 13And the Egyptians hated the children of Israel, and afflicted them and mocked them: 14And they made their life bitter with hard works in clay, and brick, and with all manner of service, wherewith they were overcharged in the works of the earth.

Pharoah Orders Male Children Killed

15And the king of Egypt spoke to the midwives of the Hebrews: of whom one was called Sephora, the other Phua, 16Commanding them: When you shall do the office of midwives to the Hebrew women, and the time of delivery is come: if it be a man child, kill it: if a woman, keep it alive. 17But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt had commanded, but saved the men children. 18And the king called for them and said: What is that you meant to do, that you would save the men children ? 19They answered: The Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women: for they themselves are skillful in the office of a midwife; and they are delivered before we come to them. 20Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied and grew exceedingly strong. 21And because the midwives feared God, he built them houses. 22Pharao therefore charged all his people, saying: Whatsoever shall be born of the male sex, ye shall cast into the river: whatsoever of the female, ye shall save alive.