ISRAEL IN EGYPT. -- Exodus 1:6-14.
GOLDEN TEXT. --_ He increased his people greatly; and made them
stronger than their enemies._ -- Psalms 105:24. TIME. --This lesson
begins with the death of Joseph, which is supposed to have taken place
B. C. 1635. PLACE. --Egypt. HELPFUL READINGS. -- Genesis 50:1... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL WERE FRUITFUL.
The rapid growth of Israel into. nation is the fact of this paragraph.
It is expressed, as usual, in Hebrew by. climax of verbs: _were
fruitful_ is taken from the vegetable world in which the increase
varies from. simple multiple to several hundredfold; _increas... [ Continue Reading ]
III. THE KING WHO KNEW NOT JOSEPH.
8. NOW THERE AROSE.
Many interesting incidents had, no doubt, occurred between the death
of Joseph and the incipient bondage of Israel. But these are passed
over in silence, because they did not bear particularly upon any
special prediction. But God would have no... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SAID UNTO HIS PEOPLE.
He probably summoned. council of his chief supporters, nobles and
elders, communicated his views and secured their ratification of the
policy he proposed. Brought up in Upper Egypt, he probably knew little
before of the Israelites, and when he found this large body of
forei... [ Continue Reading ]
LET US DEAL WISELY.
He proposed to proceed craftily. The course he pursued was not really
wise. Injustice never is.
SO GET THEM OUT OF THE LAND.
This is important as the first indication of. motive which determined
the policy of Pharaoh, in dealing with the Israelites. He had
doubtless heard that... [ Continue Reading ]
III. ISRAEL IN BONDAGE.
11. THEY DID SET OVER THEM TASKMASTERS
The writer uses the proper Egyptian designation for these officers,
viz, Chiefs of tribute. They were men of rank, superintendents of the
public works, such as are often represented on Egyptian monuments and
are carefully distinguished... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MORE THEY AFFLICTED THEM THE MORE THEY MULTIPLIED.
The land of enemies and the scene of the most grinding oppression is
easily rendered, in the providence of God,. nursery for the increase
of his Church.--_ Bush._ In this increase of their numbers, which
surpassed all expectation, there was the... [ Continue Reading ]
MADE THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL TO SERVE.
So far were the pretended fears of the Egyptians from working within
them the least sentiment of clemency, that they were evidently goaded
on by the frustration of their hopes to. still more relentless course
of oppression. Wicked men are slow to be taught, whe... [ Continue Reading ]
BITTER WITH HARD BONDAGE.
And it is to be feared that the oppression they were under had this
bad effect upon them, that it brought over many of them to join with
the Egyptians in their idolatrous worship: for we read (Joshua 24:14)
that they served other gods in Egypt; and though it is not mention... [ Continue Reading ]