1 Now these are the AGen 46:8-27names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob; they came each one 1Lit andwith his household: 2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah; 3 Issachar, Zebulun and Benjamin; 4 Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. 5 All the 1Lit soulspersons who came from the loins of Jacob were AGen 46:26, 27; Deut 10:22seventy 2Lit as to soulsin number, but Joseph was already in Egypt. 6 AGen 50:26Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation. 7 But the sons of Israel AGen 12:2; 28:3; 35:11; 46:3; 47:27; 48:4; Deut 26:5; Ps 105:24; Acts 7:17were fruitful and 1Lit swarmedincreased greatly, and multiplied, and became exceedingly 2Or numerousmighty, so that the land was filled with them.

8 Now a new AActs 7:18, 19king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. 9 APs 105:24, 25He said to his people, “Behold, the people of the sons of Israel are 1Or too many and too mighty for usmore and mightier than we. 10  “Come, let us AActs 7:19deal wisely with them, or else they will multiply and 1Lit it came about when war befalls thatin the event of war, they will also join themselves to those who hate us, and fight against us and 2Lit go up fromdepart from the land.” 11 So they appointed AGen 15:13; Ex 3:7; 5:6taskmasters over them to afflict them with 1Lit their burdensBEx 1:14; 2:11; 5:4-9; 6:6fhard labor. And they built for Pharaoh C1 Kin 9:19; 2 Chr 8:4storage cities, Pithom and DGen 47:11Raamses. 12 But the more they afflicted them, AEx 1:7the more they multiplied and the more they 1Lit broke forthspread out, so that they were in dread of the sons of Israel. 13 The Egyptians compelled the sons of Israel AGen 15:13; Deut 4:20to labor rigorously; 14 and they made AEx 2:23; 6:9; Num 20:15; Acts 7:19their lives bitter with hard labor in mortar and bricks and at all kinds of labor in the field, all their labors which they rigorously 1Lit worked through themimposed on them.

15 Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom 1Lit the name waswas named Shiphrah and the other 1Lit the name waswas named Puah; 16 and he said, “When you are helping the Hebrew women to give birth and see them upon the birthstool, AActs 7:19if it is a son, then you shall put him to death; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.” 17 But the midwives 1Or reveredAEx 1:21; Prov 16:6feared God, and BActs 4:18-20; 5:29did not do as the king of Egypt had 2Lit spoken tocommanded them, but let the boys live. 18 So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this thing, and let the boys live?” 19 The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife 1Lit comes tocan get to them.” 20 So AProv 11:18; Eccl 8:12; Heb 6:10God was good to the midwives, and BEx 1:12; Is 3:10the people multiplied, and became very 1Or numerousmighty. 21 Because the midwives 1Or reveredAEx 1:17feared God, He 2Lit madeB1 Sam 2:35; 2 Sam 7:11, 27; 1 Kin 2:24; 11:38established 3Or familieshouseholds for them. 22 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “AActs 7:19Every son who is born 1Some versions insert to the Hebrewsyou are to cast into BGen 41:1the Nile, and every daughter you are to keep alive.”