The Pulpit Commentary — Exodus — Volume 1 — Section 36

EXPOSITION. Vers. 15-22.-Some time---say five or six births ? The midwives mentioned must there- years-ha-ring ele.psed and the Pharaoh's first fore be regarded as "superintendents," chiefs plan having manifestly failed, it was necessary of the guild or faculty, who were expected t.o for him either to give up his purpose, or to give their orders to the rest. (So Kalisch, devise something else. Persevering and tena.- Knobel, Aben Ezra, etc.) It was no doubt cions, he preferred the latter course. He well known that midwives were not always bethought himself that a stop might be put to called in ; but the king supposed that they the multiplication of the Israelites by means of were employed sufficiently often for the exe- infa.nticide on a large scale. Infanticide was cution of his orders to produce an important no doubt a crime in Egypt, as in most countries result. And the narrative implies that he had except Bome ; but the royal command would not miscalculated. It was the disobedience legitimate almost any action, since the king of the midwives ( ver. 17) that frustrated the was recognised as a god ; and the wrongs of a king's intention, not any inherent weakness in foreign and subject race would not sensibly his ple.n. The midwives, while professing the move the Egyptian people, or be likely to intention of carrying out the orders given provoke remonstrance. On looking about for them, in reality killed none of the infants ; su.itable imtraments to carry out his design, it and, when taxed by the Phare.oh with disobe- struck the monarch that something, at any dience, made an untrue excuse (ver. 19). rate, might be done bymeans of the midwives Thns the king's second ple.n failed as com- who attended the Hebrew women in their pletely as his first-" the people" still "multi- confinements. It has been supposed that the plied and waxed very mighty" (ver. 20). two mentioned, Shiphrah and Pua.h, might be Foiled a second time, the wicked king threw the only midwives employed by the Israelites off all reserve and all attempt at concealment. (Canon Cook and others), and no doubt in the H the midwives will not stain their hands witb East a small number llllffice for a large popula- murder at his secret colIIIll&Ild, he will make the tion : but what impression could the monarch order a general and public one. "All his people•' expect to make on a population of from one to shall be comm.anded to put their hand to the two millions of souls by engaging the services business, and to assist in the mBBSe.cre of the of two peIBOns only, who could not possibly innocents-it shall be the duty of every loyal attend more than about one in fifty of the Sllbject to cast into the waters of the Nile ant ou. 1. 1u-22.J TIIE BOOK OF EXODUS. 17