Commentary on Exodus 1

Exodus 1 opens the dramatic narrative of Israel's oppression in Egypt, setting the stage for their miraculous deliverance. It details the rapid growth of Jacob's descendants into a vast nation, fulfilling God's covenant promises. This prosperity, however, sparks fear and hostility in a new Egyptian pharaoh, leading to severe enslavement and brutal attempts to control Israel's population. The chapter highlights God's faithfulness to His people even in their suffering and introduces the courageous midwives who defy Pharaoh's wicked decree, demonstrating early acts of faith and resistance.

Historical context

The book of Exodus picks up roughly 400 years after the events of Genesis, specifically after Joseph's death (Exod 1:6). During this period, the Israelites, initially a small family of seventy people who migrated to Egypt during a famine (Gen 46:27), multiplied significantly, fulfilling the Abrahamic covenant's promise of numerous descendants (Gen 12:2; 15:5). Egypt at this time was a dominant power in the ancient Near East, known for its monumental architecture and advanced civilization. The “new king” mentioned in Exodus 1:8, who “did not know about Joseph,” likely refers to a pharaoh from the New Kingdom period (c. 1550-1070 BC), possibly one of the early Eighteenth Dynasty rulers, who would have viewed the growing Semitic population with suspicion following the Hyksos period.

The Hyksos, a group of foreign rulers, had previously controlled parts of Egypt, and their expulsion likely fostered a strong anti-foreign sentiment among subsequent Egyptian dynasties. This historical context helps explain the pharaoh's fear and his harsh policies towards the Israelites. The author of Exodus, traditionally Moses, writes to a people who have experienced both God's covenant faithfulness and severe oppression, preparing them for the story of liberation and the establishment of their identity as God's chosen nation.

Verse by verse

• 1:

  This verse serves as a bridge from Genesis, reminding us of Jacob's family—the seventy souls who came to Egypt. It establishes continuity, emphasizing that the people now suffering are indeed the covenant people of God, not a random group.

• 5:

  The precise number “seventy” is significant, echoing Genesis 46:27. This small family unit is the seed from which a great nation will spring, highlighting the miraculous nature of God's blessing and faithfulness to His promises.

• 7:

  This verse describes the incredible growth of the Israelites: “they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them.” The Hebrew words used here—parah (פָּרָה), “to be fruitful,” and sharats (שָׁרַץ), “to swarm”—are the same terms used in Genesis 1:28 for God's command to humanity to “be fruitful and multiply,” underscoring God's active blessing on His people.

• 8:

  The arrival of a “new king” who “did not know about Joseph” marks a crucial turning point. This pharaoh's ignorance or deliberate disregard of Joseph's past service signifies a shift in policy, introducing the era of oppression. It's a stark reminder of how quickly political fortunes can change.

• 9:

  Pharaoh's fear is the driving force behind his oppression. He perceives the Israelites' rapid growth as a threat to Egyptian security, revealing the insecurity of human power in the face of God's blessing. His reasoning is based on paranoia, not actual danger.

• 11:

  To control the Israelites, Pharaoh institutes forced labor, making them build “storage cities” like Pithom and Rameses. This was a common practice in ancient Egypt, using captive labor for massive construction projects. It was designed to break their spirit and diminish their numbers.

• 12:

  Paradoxically, the more the Egyptians oppressed the Israelites, “the more the Israelites multiplied and spread.” This divine counter-action demonstrates God's sovereign hand at work, turning Pharaoh's evil intentions into a means of fulfilling His promise to Abraham.

• 15:

  Pharaoh escalates his cruelty, commanding the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, to kill all newborn Israelite boys. This is a direct assault on the future of the nation and a chilling display of genocidal intent. It highlights the depth of evil humanity can reach.

• 17:

  In a profound act of faith and moral courage, the midwives “feared God and refused to obey the king's orders.” Their fear of God outweighed their fear of Pharaoh, demonstrating a clear choice to obey a higher authority. This is the first act of resistance in the story of the Exodus.

• 20:

  God rewards the midwives for their obedience, allowing the Israelite population to continue to grow. This shows God's active involvement in the lives of His people, protecting them even through the defiance of a few faithful individuals.

• 22:

  Pharaoh's final, most extreme decree is to command all Egyptians to throw every newborn Hebrew boy into the Nile River. This makes the genocide public and widespread, setting the stage for Moses's miraculous rescue from the very river intended for death.

Key themes

• God's Covenant Faithfulness
• Oppression and Suffering
• Divine Sovereignty
• Human Resistance and Faith
• The Growth of God's People

Application

Exodus 1 reminds us that God's promises endure, even when circumstances seem to contradict them. The Israelites faced unimaginable suffering, yet God's plan for them to become a great nation continued to unfold. This should encourage us when we face periods of hardship or oppression; God is still at work, often in ways we cannot immediately perceive. Our suffering is never outside His sovereign gaze.

The courage of the midwives, Shiphrah and Puah, offers a powerful example of faithful resistance. They chose to fear God rather than man, demonstrating that true obedience to God sometimes requires civil disobedience to unjust human authority. Their story challenges us to consider where our ultimate allegiance lies and to act with moral courage when faced with injustice, trusting that God will honor our faithfulness and use our small acts of defiance for His greater purposes.

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