Keraia
Exodus 1

Exodus 1:18

Oppression by a New King · Exodus 1:8–22
Read Exodus 1

Translations

Modern
So the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, “Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?”
Traditional
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?
Literal
And the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this thing and kept alive the male children?”
Latin
Quibus ad se accersitis, rex ait: Quidnam est hoc quod facere voluistis, ut pueros servaretis?

Original

Hebrew
English
So the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, “Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?”

Notes

Exodus 1:1–22

The need for rescue was clearly related to the Israelites' condition. The Egyptians forced the people of Israel to work without mercy (1:13). It was also related to promises God had made to the patriarchs years earlier.

The Lord had promised Abraham that his descendants would become a great nation, living freely in the land of Canaan. At this time, Abraham's descendants were slaves in Egypt under a pharaoh who wanted to destroy them as a people. God would have to rescue them to fulfill his promises.

Parallels

Acts 7:15–19

Places

Egypt: Ancient nation; Israelites enslaved there; plagues and Exodus

Glossary

Aaron Book of Exodus Deuteronomy, Book of Medicine and Medical Practice

Topics

Egypt: Israel in Male Children Destroyed Integrity: The Egyptian Midwives when Commanded to Destroy the Newborn Babies of the Israelites Israel: Number of, at the Time of the Exodus Midwifery: General Scriptures Concerning Oppression of Israelites, by Egyptians Servant: Bond: The Israelites Servant: Israelites Usurpation of Executive Power of Pharaoh, Making Bondservants of the Israelites