Matthew Henry Commentary Exodus 1
Matthew Henry Commentary
Exodus 1
Matthew Henry Commentary
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. And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: and Joseph was in Egypt already. And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation. And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them." — Exodus 1:1-7 (ASV)
During more than 200 years, while Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob lived at liberty, the Hebrews increased slowly; only about seventy persons went down into Egypt. There, in about the same number of years, though under cruel bondage, they became a large nation.
This wonderful increase was according to the promise long before made to the fathers. Though the performance of God's promises is sometimes slow, it is always sure.
"Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who knew not Joseph. And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: come, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they also join themselves unto our enemies, and fight against us, and get them up out of the land. Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh store-cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel. And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigor: and they made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field, all their service, wherein they made them serve with rigor." — Exodus 1:8-14 (ASV)
The land of Egypt became a house of bondage to Israel. The place where we have been happy may soon become the place of our affliction; and that may prove the greatest cross to us, about which we once said, 'This very thing will comfort us.' Cease from man, and do not say of any place on this side of heaven, 'This is my rest.' All who knew Joseph loved him and were kind to his brothers for his sake; but the best and most useful services a person does for others are soon forgotten after their death.
Our great care should be to serve God and to please Him, who is not unrighteous (as humans often are) so as to forget our work and labor of love. The offense of Israel is that they prosper. There is no sight more hateful to a wicked person than the prosperity of the righteous. The Egyptians feared that the children of Israel might join their enemies and get them up out of the land.
Wickedness is always cowardly and unjust; it makes a person fear where there is no true reason for fear, and flee when no one pursues. Human wisdom is often foolishness and very sinful. God's people had taskmasters set over them, not only to burden them but to afflict them with their burdens. They not only made them serve for Pharaoh's profit, but did so in such a way that their lives became bitter.
The Israelites wonderfully increased. Christianity spread most when it was persecuted: the blood of the martyrs was the seed of the church. Those who take counsel against the Lord and His Israel only imagine a vain thing and create greater vexation for themselves.
"And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah: and he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the birth-stool; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him; but if it be a daughter, then she shall live. But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men-children alive. And the king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done this thing, and have saved the men-children alive? And the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women; for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwife come unto them. And God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty. And it came to pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them households. And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive." — Exodus 1:15-22 (ASV)
The Egyptians tried to destroy Israel by the murder of their children. The enmity that is in the seed of the serpent, against the Seed of the woman, causes people to forget all pity. It is clear that the Hebrews were now under an uncommon blessing. And we see that the services done for God's Israel are often repaid in kind. Pharaoh gave orders to drown all the male children of the Hebrews. The enemy who, by Pharaoh, attempted to destroy the church in its infant state, actively seeks to stifle the rise of serious reflections in the human heart. Let those who wish to escape, be afraid of sinning, and cry directly and fervently to the Lord for assistance.
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