Keraia
Exodus 1

Exodus 1:9

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

Modern
“Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become too numerous and too powerful for us.
Traditional
And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:
Literal
And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of the sons of Israel are many and mightier than us.
Latin
Et ait ad populum suum: Ecce, populus filiorum Israël multus, et fortior nobis est.

Original

Hebrew
English
“Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become too numerous and too powerful for us.

Notes

Exodus 1:8–10

From about 1650 to 1550 BC, Semitic invaders ruled northern Egypt, where the Israelites lived. The Egyptians called these rulers "shepherd kings" or Hyksos. Semitic peoples were ancient groups from the Middle East and North Africa, known for their shared languages (such as Hebrew, Aramaic, or Arabic) and cultural traditions.

Many scholars think these kings supported the Israelites, who might have allied with them. Egypt finally expelled the invaders around 1540 BC. The new rulers of Egypt's 18th Dynasty probably did not trust any remaining Semites, including the Israelites.

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

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Glossary

Aaron Book of Exodus Deuteronomy, Book of Hyksos Ramses (Person)

Topics

Egypt: Israel in Israel Increases and are Oppressed God: Preserver: To the Israelites, in Bringing About Their Deliverance from Bondage Israel: Number of, at the Time of the Exodus Persecution: Spirit of Pharaoh Servant: Bond: The Israelites Usurpation of Executive Power of Pharaoh, Making Bondservants of the Israelites