Exodus Chapter 1

1Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt (every man and his household came thither with Jacob)

2Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,

3Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,

4Dan, and Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

5So all the souls, that came out of the loins of Jacob, were seventy souls: Joseph was in Egypt already.

6Now Joseph died and all his brethren, and that whole generation.

7And the children of Israel brought forth fruit and increased in abundance, and were multiplied, and were exceeding mighty, so that the land was full of them.

8Then there rose up a new King in Egypt, who knew not Joseph.

9And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are greater, and mightier than we.

10Come, let us work wisely with them, lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that if there be war, they join themselves also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and get them out of the land.

11Therefore did they set taskmasters over them, to keep them under with burdens: and they built the cities Pithom and Raamses for the treasures of Pharaoh.

12But the more they vexed them, the more they multiplied and grew: therefore they were more grieved against the children of Israel.

13Wherefore the Egyptians by cruelty caused the children of Israel to serve.

14Thus they made them weary of their lives by sore labor in clay and in brick, and in all work in the field, with all manner of bondage, which they laid upon them most cruelly.

15Moreover the King of Egypt commanded the midwives of the Hebrew women (of which the one’s name was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah)

16And said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the women of the Hebrews, and see them on their stools, if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then let her live.

17Notwithstanding the midwives feared God, and did not as the King of Egypt commanded them, but preserved alive the men children.

18Then the King of Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done thus, and have preserved alive the men children?

19And the midwives answered Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not as the women of Egypt: for they are lively, and are delivered ere the midwives come at them.

20God therefore prospered the midwives, and the people multiplied, and were very mighty.

21And because the midwives feared God, therefore he made them houses.

22Then Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every man-child that is born, cast ye into the river, but reserve every maid-child alive.