| 1 Now these are the names of the sons of Israel, who came into Egypt
(every man and his household came with Jacob): 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and
Judah, 3 Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, 4 Dan and Naphtali, Gad and
Asher. 5 And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were
seventy souls: and Joseph was in Egypt already. 6 And Joseph died, and all
his brethren, and all that generation. 7 And the children of Israel were
fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding
mighty; and the land was filled with them.
8 Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who knew not Joseph. 9 And he
said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more
and mightier than we: 10 come, let us deal wisely with them, lest they
multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they
also join themselves unto our enemies, and fight against us, and get them up
out of the land. 11 Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to
afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh store-cities,
Pithom and Raamses. 12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they
multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And they were grieved because of
the children of Israel. 13 And the Egyptians made the children of Israel
to serve with rigor: 14 and they made their lives bitter with hard
service, in mortar and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field,
all their service, wherein they made them serve with rigor.
15 And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of
the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah: 16 and he said, When
ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the
birth-stool; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him; but if it be a daughter,
then she shall live. 17 But the midwives feared God, and did not as the
king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men-children alive. 18 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? 19 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 midwife come unto them.
20 And God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and
waxed very mighty. 21 And it came to pass, because the midwives feared
God, that he made them households. 22 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.
Genesis - Public
Domain
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