Exodus 1 Chapter Introduction

Structure and Formatting

This chapter is intended to form a smooth transition from the last chapter of the book of Genesis. - v. 1–7: Jacob’s family grows - v. 8–22: Pharaoh oppresses the Israelites and tries to limit the Israelites’ growth

Religious and Cultural Concepts in This Chapter

Israel’s growth

Israel grew in number. This was the beginning of God’s fulfilling his promises to Abraham. It also caused the Pharaoh to worry that there would be more Israelites than Egyptians, with the result that the Egyptians would be unable to defend themselves against so many people. Pharaoh tried to kill all of the male babies so they would not become soldiers who fought against him. (See: fulfill and covenant)

Translation Issues in This Chapter

- “All of the descendants of Jacob were 70 in number”This number included both Jacob’s children and grandchildren. It may cause confusion, but it is important to remember Jacob only had 12 sons. - Starting from [verse 7](../01/07.md), the terms Hebrews and sons of Israel both refer to the Israelite nation or people group. - God blesses the Hebrew midwives for lying to the wicked Pharaoh. Translators should not attempt to hide this. They showed that they feared God by disobeying a wicked order in order to preserve the lives of God’s people. - Pharaoh is a specifically Egyptian word for their kings (and queens).