OPPRESSION OF THE ISRAELITES 5. Seventy souls] Jacob himself is included in the number: cp. Genesis 46:8. Of the seventy, sixty-eight were males. If to the direct descendants of Jacob we add the wives of his sons and grandsons, and the husbands of his daughters and grand-daughters, and all their se... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe the number of words denoting increase. The land is the land of Goshen in the Delta of the Nile.... [ Continue Reading ]
This verse marks the turn of the tide in the fortunes of Israel. Hitherto they have been tolerated and honoured; now they are feared and oppressed. The change of treatment is here said to be connected with a change in the government of Egypt. As mentioned in the Introduction, Egypt for several hundr... [ Continue Reading ]
TREASURE CITIES] store cities, situated on the frontier, and serving both as strongholds for defence against invasion and as military depots of provisions and arms. PITHOM] i.e. the 'Abode of the Setting Sun,' has been identifled with Tel-el Maskhuta, between Kassassin and Ismaїliyeh. The walls of t... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MORE THEY MULTIPLIED] The whole history of the exodus and sojourn in the wilderness is designed to show that nothing can destroy the people of Israel, or thwart the divine purpose with regard to them.... [ Continue Reading ]
SERVICE IN THE FIELD] This refers to the construction of irrigation canals and embankments, as well as to the making of bricks for building. With what rigour the system of forced labour was employed may be judged from the fact recorded by Herodotus that 120,000 workmen lost their lives in the constr... [ Continue Reading ]
The names of only two of the mid-wives have been preserved. These two were probably connected with the royal palace.... [ Continue Reading ]
STOOLS] RV 'birthstool.'... [ Continue Reading ]
There was, no doubt, some truth in what the midwives said, though their womanly instincts led them to evade the unnatural command of the king.... [ Continue Reading ]
MADE THEM HOUSES] I.E. blessed them with marriage and many descendants: cp. Ruth 4:11; 2 Samuel 7:27; 1 Kings 11:38.... [ Continue Reading ]