[0] When Jacob finished charging his sons, he drew up his feet into the
bed, and breathed his last, and was gathered to his people. [1] These are
the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his
household: [2] Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, [3] Is'sachar, Zeb'ulun,
and Benjamin, [4] Dan and Naph'tali, Gad and Asher. [5] All the offspring
of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was already in Egypt. [6] Then Joseph
died, and all his brothers, and all that generation. [7] But the
descendants of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied
and grew exceedingly strong; so that the land was filled with them. [8] Now
there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. [9] And he said
to his people, "Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty
for us. [10] Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and,
if war befall us, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape
from the land." [11] Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict
them with heavy burdens; and they built for Pharaoh store-cities, Pithom
and Ra-am'ses. [12] But the more they were oppressed, the more they
multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread
of the people of Israel. [13] So they made the people of Israel serve with
rigor, [14] and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and
brick, and in all kinds of work in the field; in all their work they made
them serve with rigor. [15] Then the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew
midwives, one of whom was named Shiph'rah and the other Pu'ah, [16] "When
you serve as midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the birthstool,
if it is a son, you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, she shall
live." [17] But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of
Egypt commanded them, but let the male children live. [18] So the king of
Egypt called the midwives, and said to them, "Why have you done this, and
let the male children live?" [19] The midwives said to Pharaoh, "Because
the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and
are delivered before the midwife comes to them." [20] So God dealt well
with the midwives; and the people multiplied and grew very strong. [21] And
because the midwives feared God he gave them families. [22] Then Pharaoh
commanded all his people, "Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall
cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live."
