1Now
these are the names of the children of Israel, which 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: for 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 up a new king over Egypt, which 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 on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it
come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our
enemies, and fight against us, and so 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 treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. 12 But the more they
afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because
of the children of Israel. 13 And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to
serve with rigour: 14 And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in
morter, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their
service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigour.
15 And the
king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which 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 stools; 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 midwives
come in unto them. 20 Therefore 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 houses. 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.