Summary
Exodus 1 opens with a list of the twelve sons of Jacob and notes that the Israelites had grown to seventy individuals before Joseph's death. After Joseph's passing, Israel multiplied, becoming a powerful presence in Egypt. A new Pharaoh, unaware of Joseph's legacy, feared Israel's strength and feared potential alliances with enemies, so he imposed harsh labor and built cities for tribute. The Egyptians forced the Israelites into severe bondage, demanding they produce hard work in mortar, bricks, and field labor. Pharaoh issued a cruel order to the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, to kill male Hebrew infants but spare females. The midwives, fearing God, defied Pharaoh and saved the male babies. Pharaoh questioned them, but they explained the resilience of Hebrew women. God blessed the midwives, granting them homes, and the Israelites continued to grow. Pharaoh then commanded that every Hebrew newborn son be cast into the river, while daughters were spared. This sets the stage for Israel’s oppression and the upcoming divine deliverance.