Exodus 1

Now these are the names of the sons of Israel, who came into Egypt (every man and his household came with Jacob):

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,

Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,

Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.

All the souls who came out of Jacob’s body were seventy souls, and Joseph was in Egypt already.

Joseph died, as did all his brothers, and all that generation.

The children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and grew exceedingly mighty; and the land was filled with them.

Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who didn’t know Joseph.

He said to his people, “Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we.

Come, let’s deal wisely with them, lest they multiply, and it happen that when any war breaks out, they also join themselves to our enemies and fight against us, and escape out of the land.”

Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. They built storage cities for Pharaoh: Pithom and Raamses.

But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread out. They started to dread the children of Israel.

The Egyptians ruthlessly made the children of Israel serve,

and they made their lives bitter with hard service in mortar and in brick, and in all kinds of service in the field, all their service, in which they ruthlessly made them serve.

The king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah,

and he said, “When you perform the duty of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them on the birth stool, if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.”

But the midwives feared God, and didn’t do what the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the baby boys alive.

The king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said to them, “Why have you done this thing and saved the boys alive?”

The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women aren’t like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.”

God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied, and grew very mighty.

Because the midwives feared God, he gave them families.

Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “You shall cast every son who is born into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive.”

Chapter overviewAI-generated

Overview.
This chapter traces the transition from the patriarchal age to the rise of Israel as a nation in Egypt, setting the stage for the unfolding drama of deliverance. It begins by recalling the descent of Jacob’s family into Egypt, then highlights the exponential growth of Israel, which provokes fear and oppressive measures by a new Pharaoh who does not know Joseph. Amid escalating persecution—including infanticide—the faithfulness of the midwives who fear God becomes a pivotal act of resistance, preserving life and receiving divine blessing.

Flow.

Lists the sons of Israel who entered Egypt, emphasizing the continuity of God’s covenant people from Jacob’s household.
Describes how Israel multiplies dramatically, fulfilling God’s promise to Abraham, yet this blessing incites fear in Egypt.
Introduces Pharaoh’s escalating oppression: forced labor, then the command to kill Hebrew male infants through midwives.
Shows the midwives’ defiance rooted in the fear of God, leading to divine approval and further growth of the people.

Connections.
Following the close of Genesis, which ends with Joseph’s death and the hope of return to Canaan (), Exodus 1 picks up the narrative by confirming the continuity of the covenant line and the unfolding of God’s purposes despite a change in setting. The numerous descendants of Jacob in Egypt echo the promises of fruitfulness (; 17:4–6), but now they face existential threat. The survival of the male children, especially through the midwives’ actions, becomes crucial preparation for the rise of Moses in chapter 2 and the eventual deliverance that chapter 3 will reveal through the call of Moses at the burning bush.

What it teaches.
God remains faithful to His covenant even when circumstances appear dire, causing His people to grow despite affliction (WCF 7.3). The fear of God supersedes the fear of rulers, as seen in the midwives’ obedience to God’s moral law rather than Pharaoh’s unlawful command—a principle affirmed in WLC 39 and HC LD 34, which emphasize God’s authority over human institutions. The preservation of Israel’s children also points forward to God’s sovereign purpose to bring forth a Redeemer from Judah (), a line protected here by divine providence even before the giving of the Law. The land being “filled” with Israel (v. 7) echoes creation mandates and anticipates the fullness of God’s redemptive plan.

Apply.
When human authority commands what God forbids, fear of God leads to quiet, courageous obedience that trusts His blessing over survival.

AI-generated. Not a substitute for Scripture, your pastor, or the confessions.