15 Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives , one of whom [1]was named Shiphrah and the other [1]was named Puah ; 16 and he said , "When you are helping the Hebrew women to give birth and see them upon the birthstool , if it is a son , then you shall put him to death ; but if it is a daughter , then she shall live ." 17 But the midwives [3] feared God , and did not do as the king of Egypt had [4]commanded them, but let the boys live . 18 So the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, "Why have you done this thing , and let the boys live ?" 19 The midwives said to Pharaoh , "Because the Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women ; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife [5]can get to them." 20 So God was good to the midwives , and the people multiplied , and became very [6]mighty . 21 Because the midwives [7] feared God , He [8] established [9]households for them. 22 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people , saying , " Every son who is born [10]you are to cast into the Nile , and every daughter you are to keep alive ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 1:15-22
Commentary on Exodus 1:15-22
(Read Exodus 1:15-22)
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, makes men forget all pity. It is plain 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 this its infant state, is busy to stifle the rise of serious reflections in the heart of man. Let those who would escape, be afraid of sinning, and cry directly and fervently to the Lord for assistance.