Scripture |
Expanded Comments |
|
|
1 Now, these, are the names of the Sons of Israel, who came into Egypt, with Jacob, did each man and his household come in:– |
Which came into Egypt – The book of Exodus takes up with an express reference to what has been related in Genesis. R1623:2
|
2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah; |
|
3 Issachar, Zebulon, and Benjamin; |
|
4 Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. |
|
5 And it came to pass that, all the persons who were descended from Jacob, were seventy souls,–but, Joseph, was already in Egypt.
|
And all the souls – Nephesh, intelligent beings. E342; R1510:2
A living soul or being can propagate other souls or beings-- offspring. E342; R1510:2
Out of the loins – Children are of the father, by the mother, as illustrated in Christ's birth. E99; R776:5
Jacob passed on life, organism and soul, to his posterity. HG333:1
Seventy souls – All males except two, Dinah and Sarah. The females of the company, not included in the count, may have been as many more. Additionally, there may have been servants. R2900:2, R3982:2
|
6 So then Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation. |
Joseph died – 73 years after the coming of his father and brethren to dwell in Egypt. R3982:2
|
7 But, the sons of Israel, were fruitful, and swarmed and multiplied and waxed mighty, with, exceeding vigour,–so that the land was filled with them. |
Were fruitful – Noteworthy, since Isaac was the only child of his mother, since Jacob was born after repeated prayers, and since Rachel was long unfruitful. R2900:2
Increased abundantly – Heb., "swarming." If the population doubled every 15 years, as it did at one time in North America, the increase of 70 men with their wives would amount to 2,293,760 in 200 years. R2900:5
A miracle which did not continue, for 40 years later, when entering Canaan, their male forces numbered less than when they left Egypt. HG362:3
The land – Of Goshen. R2900:2
|
|
|
8 Then arose a new king over Egypt,–who had not known Joseph. |
A new king – A new dynasty-a change in the royal family through insurrection or otherwise. R2900:5, R3982:3
Supposed to have been Rameses II, a hard-hearted, selfish despot. R5250:3
In Joseph's time; and before Egypt had been governed by Hyksos, or shepherd kings, supposed to have been invaders and not of pure Egyptian stock. R3982:3
The change of dynasty commenced with Rameses I, Rameses II being the Pharaoh who harried the Israelites, and his son, Menephtah 1, the Pharaoh of the exodus. R3982:3, R3994:2
The mummy of Rameses II was found in 1881 and was exhibited in a museum near the pyramid in 1892. R2900:6
Knew not Joseph – Ignored his services to Egypt and the tentative covenant with the Israelites. R5250:3, R1650:6
|
9 So he said unto his people, Lo! the people of the sons of Israel, are too many and mighty for us! |
More and mightier – Considered them a menace. An invading army might bribe them and thus the rule of the Pharaohs be overthrown. R5250:3
|
10 Come on! let us shew ourselves wise with regard to them, lest they so multiply that it shall come to pass, when war befalleth us, that, they also, shall join themselves unto them who hate us, and shall make war upon us, and then go up out of the land. |
|
11 So they set over them chiefs of tribute, to the end they might humiliate them with their burdens,–and they built store-cities for Pharaoh, even Pithom and Raamses. |
To afflict them – Which, it was hoped, would weaken them. R5250:6
Not to destroy nor drive them off, but merely to hold them in check, R2900:6
As a wise father, God foresaw that too much prosperity would be greatly to their disadvantage. R1651:4
Built for Pharaoh – Rameses II. His mummy was found in 1881. R2900:6
Pithom – This city, twelve miles west of Ismalia, was discovered in 1883, enclosed by walls of unbaked brick, the lower courses of which are of well made brick with chopped straw in them. Higher up the straw is long and scanty and the last courses have no straw at all, but have sedges, rushes and water plants. R3983:2, R5264:1, R2910:6
|
12 But, the more they were humiliating them, the more, were they multiplying, and, the more, were they breaking forth,–so they were filled with alarm, because of the sons of Israel. |
And grew – Not only zeal, but numbers also increase under persecutions and difficulties. R2901:5
|
13 And the Egyptians rigorously made the sons of Israel serve; |
|
14 and embittered their lives with harsh service, in clay and in bricks, and in all manner of service in the field,–all their service, wherein they rigorously made them serve. |
Their lives bitter – In Central Africa many natives impressed into public service after this manner have committed suicide rather than labor unrewarded. R3983:1
With hard bondage – Not that all the Israelites were compelled to engage in brick making, but that there were drafts or conscriptions from time to time. R2901:1
Typifying the bondage of sin. R1652:5
Solomon similarly oppressed the Israelites, though not with the same degree of severity and rigor, in conjunction with his public building program. R3982:5, R2901:2
All manner of service – Implying that the Israelites, a pastoral people, were compelled to learn all the trades and occupations of their masters. Being forced into an industrial school in the foremost civilization of that day was useful training. R5264:1
All their service – Our present experiences and trials are designed to work in us the "peaceable fruits of righteousness." (Heb. 12:11) R5264:4
Was with rigour – Tended to bind them in sympathy more closely together as one nation, impressing upon them their Abrahamic heritage. R3983:4
Taught them valuable lessons of humility and patience, of dependence upon God. R1650:6
So the trials and adversities of spiritual Israel tend to draw them nearer to each other and to the Lord. R2901:4
|
|
|
15 Then said the king of Egypt to the Hebrew midwives,–of whom, the name of the one was, Shiphrah, and, the name of the other, Puah;– |
|
16 then he said–When ye act as midwives unto the Hebrew women, then shall ye look out for the sex,–If it is, a son, then shall ye kill it, But, if it is, a daughter, then shall it live. |
Kill him – Satan thus tried to frustrate the prophecies of God and to destroy the channel through which the seed was to come. R5848:1*
|
17 But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt spake unto them,–but suffered the male children to live. |
|
18 Then called the king of Egypt for the midwives, and said to them–Wherefore have ye done this thing,–that ye should let the male children live? |
|
19 And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because, not like the Egyptian women, are the Hebrew women,–for they are, full of life, ere yet the midwife can come in unto them, they have given birth. |
|
20 So then God dealt well with the midwives,–and the people multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty. |
|
21 And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made for them households. |
|
22 Then gave Pharaoh command to all his people, saying–Every son that is born to the Hebrews, into the river, shall ye cast him; But, every daughter, shall ye suffer to live. |
|