1:1  THESE ARE the names of the sons of Israel who came into Egypt with Jacob, each with his household:

1:2  Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,

1:3  Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,

1:4  Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.

1:5  All the offspring of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was already in Egypt.

1:6  Then Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation.

1:7  But the descendants of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, and the land was full of them.

1:8  Now a new king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph.

1:9  He said to his people, Behold, the Israelites are too many and too mighty for us [and they outnumber us both in people and in strength].

1:10  Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply more and, should war befall us, they join our enemies, fight against us, and escape out of the land.

1:11  So they set over [the Israelites] taskmasters to afflict {and} oppress them with [increased] burdens. And [the Israelites] built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh.

1:12  But the more [the Egyptians] oppressed them, the more they multiplied and expanded, so that [the Egyptians] were vexed {and} alarmed because of the Israelites.

1:13  And the Egyptians reduced the Israelites to severe slavery.

1:14  They made their lives bitter with hard service in mortar, brick, and all kinds of work in the field. All their service was with harshness {and} severity.

1:15  Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, of whom one was named Shiprah and the other Puah,

1:16  When you act as midwives to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, she shall live.

1:17  But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded, but let the male babies live.

1:18  So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, Why have you done this thing and allowed the male children to live?

1:19  The midwives answered Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; they are vigorous and quickly delivered; their babies are born before the midwife comes to them.

1:20  So God dealt well with the midwives and the people multiplied and became very strong.

1:21  And because the midwives revered {and} feared God, He made them households [of their own].

1:22  Then Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son born [to the Hebrews] you shall cast into the river [Nile], but every daughter you shall allow to live.