Albert Barnes Commentary


Albert Barnes Commentary
"The same dealt craftily with our race, and ill-treated our fathers, that they should cast out their babes to the end they might not live." — Acts 7:19 (ASV)
Dealt subtilly. He acted deceitfully; he used fraud. The cunning or deceitful attempt which is referred to is his endeavor to weaken and destroy the Jewish people by causing their male children to be put to death (Exodus 1:22).
Our kindred. Our nation, or our ancestors.
And evil entreated. He was unjust and cruel towards them.
So that, etc. For that purpose, or to cause them to cast them out. He dealt with them in this cruel manner, hoping that the Israelites themselves would destroy their own sons, so that they might not grow up to experience the same sufferings as their fathers had. The cunning or deceitfulness of Pharaoh extended to everything that he did to oppress, to keep under, and to destroy the children of Israel.