1 T hese are the names of the sons of Israel who came into Egypt with Jacob, each with his household:

2 R euben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,

3 I ssachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,

4 D an and Naphtali, Gad and Asher.

5 A ll the offspring of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was already in Egypt.

6 T hen Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation.

7 B ut the descendants of Israel were fruitful and increased abundantly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, and the land was full of them.

8 N ow a new king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph.

9 H e said to his people, Behold, the Israelites are too many and too mighty for us '> outnumber us both in people and in strength].

10 C ome, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply more and, should war befall us, they join our enemies, fight against us, and escape out of the land.

11 S o they set over taskmasters to afflict and oppress them with burdens. And built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh.

12 B ut the more oppressed them, the more they multiplied and expanded, so that were vexed and alarmed because of the Israelites.

13 A nd the Egyptians reduced the Israelites to severe slavery.

14 T hey made their lives bitter with hard service in mortar, brick, and all kinds of work in the field. All their service was with harshness and severity.

15 T hen the king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, of whom one was named Shiprah and the other Puah,

16 W hen you act as midwives to the Hebrew women and see them on the birthstool, if it is a son, you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, she shall live.

17 B ut the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded, but let the male babies live.

18 S o the king of Egypt called for the midwives and said to them, Why have you done this thing and allowed the male children to live?

19 T he midwives answered Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; they are vigorous and quickly delivered; their babies are born before the midwife comes to them.

20 S o God dealt well with the midwives and the people multiplied and became very strong.

21 A nd because the midwives revered and feared God, He made them households.

22 T hen Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son born you shall cast into the river, but every daughter you shall allow to live.