Exodus 1:16 - and he said, “When you perform the duty of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them on the birth stool; if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.”
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What does "Exodus 1:16" mean?
This verse (Exodus 1:16) is a direct command from the Pharaoh of Egypt to the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah. It's a horrific and chilling order outlining a program of infanticide specifically targeting male Hebrew babies. Let's break down what it means:
"and he said, “When you perform the duty of a midwife to the Hebrew women..." Pharaoh recognizes the midwives' profession and their access to Hebrew women during childbirth.
"...and see them on the birth stool;..." The "birth stool" was a type of chair or low platform used to assist women during childbirth. This emphasizes the midwives' intimate involvement in the birth process.
"...if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.”" This is the core of the command: a gender-based genocide. The Pharaoh orders the midwives to kill all newborn Hebrew male children, but to allow female children to live.
Significance and Context:
Fear of Hebrew Population Growth: This command is rooted in Pharaoh's fear that the rapidly growing Hebrew population was becoming a threat to Egyptian power and stability. He saw the male children as potential future warriors or laborers who would challenge his rule.
Attempt to Control the Hebrew Population: By eliminating male infants, Pharaoh aimed to drastically reduce the Hebrew population over time. Killing the males meant limiting the future workforce and possible army they could raise.
Moral Dilemma: This command placed the midwives in an impossible moral situation. They were forced to choose between obeying Pharaoh's order and following their conscience.
Divine Intervention: This is a key point in the story of the Exodus. The midwives, fearing God more than Pharaoh, disobeyed his command and allowed the male babies to live (Exodus 1:17). Their defiance is seen as an act of faith and courage that contributes to the eventual liberation of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery.
In essence, Exodus 1:16 represents a brutal attempt by Pharaoh to suppress the Hebrew people through a policy of gender-specific infanticide. It highlights the themes of oppression, fear, and the moral courage required to stand up against injustice. This sets the stage for the rest of the Exodus story, where God intervenes to deliver the Israelites from slavery.
Exodus 1:16 - and he said, “When you perform the duty of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them on the birth stool; if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.”
What does "Exodus 1:16" mean?
This verse (Exodus 1:16) is a direct command from the Pharaoh of Egypt to the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah. It's a horrific and chilling order outlining a program of infanticide specifically targeting male Hebrew babies. Let's break down what it means:
"and he said, “When you perform the duty of a midwife to the Hebrew women..." Pharaoh recognizes the midwives' profession and their access to Hebrew women during childbirth.
"...and see them on the birth stool;..." The "birth stool" was a type of chair or low platform used to assist women during childbirth. This emphasizes the midwives' intimate involvement in the birth process.
"...if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.”" This is the core of the command: a gender-based genocide. The Pharaoh orders the midwives to kill all newborn Hebrew male children, but to allow female children to live.
Significance and Context:
Fear of Hebrew Population Growth: This command is rooted in Pharaoh's fear that the rapidly growing Hebrew population was becoming a threat to Egyptian power and stability. He saw the male children as potential future warriors or laborers who would challenge his rule.
Attempt to Control the Hebrew Population: By eliminating male infants, Pharaoh aimed to drastically reduce the Hebrew population over time. Killing the males meant limiting the future workforce and possible army they could raise.
Moral Dilemma: This command placed the midwives in an impossible moral situation. They were forced to choose between obeying Pharaoh's order and following their conscience.
Divine Intervention: This is a key point in the story of the Exodus. The midwives, fearing God more than Pharaoh, disobeyed his command and allowed the male babies to live (Exodus 1:17). Their defiance is seen as an act of faith and courage that contributes to the eventual liberation of the Israelites from Egyptian slavery.
In essence, Exodus 1:16 represents a brutal attempt by Pharaoh to suppress the Hebrew people through a policy of gender-specific infanticide. It highlights the themes of oppression, fear, and the moral courage required to stand up against injustice. This sets the stage for the rest of the Exodus story, where God intervenes to deliver the Israelites from slavery.