Now these [are] the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came with Jacob. Ver. 1. _Now these are._] Heb., And these are, &c. For this book is a continuation of the former history, and this verse a repetition of what was before recorded in Genesis 46:8,... [ Continue Reading ]
And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt [already]. Ver. 5. _And all the souls._] That is, persons; for souls are not begotten, but infused, being _divinae particulae aurae._ Ecc 12:7 Aristotle himself saw and acknowledged as much. _a_ Were... [ Continue Reading ]
And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation. Ver. 6. _And all that generation,_] _Ea enim lege nati sumus ut moriamur:_ God also maketh haste to have the number of his elect fulfilled; and, therefore, despatcheth away the generations.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them. Ver. 7. _Increased abundantly._] Heb., Spawned, and bred swiftly, as fishes. _Trogus author a firmat in Aegypto septenos uno utero simul gigni._ Egypt i... [ Continue Reading ]
Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph. Ver. 8. _A new king._] Called Busiris, a most savage tyrant, as heathen histories report him. _ Who knew not._] Nothing sooner perisheth than the remembrance of a good turn. The Egyptians are renowned in histories for a thankful peop... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel [are] more and mightier than we: Ver. 9. _More and mightier._] He speaks as if he had looked through a multiplying glass. _See Trapp on "_ Gen 31:1 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and [so] get them up out of the land. Ver. 10. _Come on, let us deal wisely._] So as the world's wizards use to do: but God ta... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. Ver. 11. _To afflict them._] Because they would not "serve God with gladness of heart." Deu 28:47-48 For now they began to go awhoring after the idols of... [ Continue Reading ]
But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel. Ver. 12. _The more they multiplied._] As the ground is most fruitful that is most harrowed; and as the walnut tree bears best when most beaten. Fish thrive better in cold an... [ Continue Reading ]
And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour: Ver. 13. _To serve with rigour._] Heb. (בפרך), With fierceness: _a_ so thinking to cow out their spirits, and to exanimate them. So deals the Turk with the Christians. _ a_ _Quidam cam ferocia voce latina conferunt._... [ Continue Reading ]
And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, [was] with rigour. Ver. 14. _Bitter with hard bondage._] Did we but live a while, saith one, _a_ in Turkey, Persia, yea, or but in... [ Continue Reading ]
And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one [was] Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah: Ver. 15. _To the Hebrew midwives._] In Egypt and Greece the midwives of old had their schools; and some of them were great writers. I know not whether the priests were th... [ Continue Reading ]
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. _Then ye shall kill him._] No greater argument of an ill cause than a bloody persecution. George Ta... [ Continue Reading ]
But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive. Ver. 17. _And did not as the king, &c._] Wherein they did no more, though out of a better principle, than nature itself dictateth. Antigona saith thus in Sophocles, _Magis obtemperandum e... [ Continue Reading ]
And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men children alive? Ver. 18. _Why have ye done this thing?_] They might well have answered, as she did in Euripides, _Obediemus Atridis honesta mandantibus: Sin vero inhonesta mandabut... [ Continue Reading ]
And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women [are] not as the Egyptian women; for they [are] lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come in unto them. Ver. 19. _For they are lively._] By that "voice of the Lord which maketh the hinds to calve." Psa 29:9 Lady Faith was their midw... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty. Ver. 20. _Dealt well with the midwives._] God is a liberal paymaster: and his retributions are more than bountiful. "Be ye therefore steadfast and unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, fora... [ Continue Reading ]
_And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses._ Ver. 21. _Because the midwives feared God._] There is no necessity of granting that the midwives told the king a lie. _see _ Exo 1:19 But if they did, St Austin saith well, _Non remunerata fuit iis fallacia, sed benev... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive._ Ver. 22. _And Pharaoh charged._] _Imperio non tam duro quam diro._ This was a most bloody edict: therefore, when God came to make inquisition for blood, he gave... [ Continue Reading ]