The small number of Israelites much increasing in Egypt, 6. especially after the death of Joseph and his brethren, 8. a new king, that knew not Joseph in vain striveth to hinder their multiplication, 11. by imposing works upon them, 15. and by commanding to kill, 22. and to drown all the male-children of them. God in the meantime rewardeth the midwives, that fearing him, killed not the children.The smal number of israelites much increasing in Ægypt, 6. especially after the death of Ioseph and his brethren, 8. a new king, that knew not Ioseph in vaine striueth to hinder their multiplication, 11. by imposing workes vpon them, 15. and by commanding to kil, 22. and to drowne al the male-children of them. God in the meane time rewardeth the midwiues, that fearing him, killed not the children.
The first part of this book. Of the Israelites' servile affliction in Egypt, and their delivery from thence.The first part of this booke. Of the Israelites seruile affliction in Ægypt, and their deliuerie from thence.
These be the names of the children of Israel, that entered into Egypt with Jacob: they did enter in every one with their houses:THese be the names of the children of Israel, that entred into Ægypt with Iacob: they did enter in euerie one with their houses:Hæc sunt nomina filiorum Israël qui ingressi sunt in Ægyptum cum Jacob : singuli cum domibus suis introierunt :
2Ruben, Simeon, Levi, Judas,Ruben, Simeon, Leui, Iudas,Ruben, Simeon, Levi, Judas,
3Issachar, Zabulon, and Benjamin,Issachar, Zabulon, and Beniamin,Issachar, Zabulon et Benjamin,
4Dan, and Nephthali, Gad, and Aser.Dan, and Nepthali, Gad, and Aser.Dan et Nephthali, Gad et Aser.
5Therefore all the souls that came out of Jacob's thigh, were seventy: and Joseph was in Egypt.Therfore al the soules that came out of Iacobs thigh, were seuentie: and Ioseph was in Ægypt.Erant igitur omnes animæ eorum qui egressi sunt de femore Jacob, septuaginta : Joseph autem in Ægypto erat.
6Who being dead, and all his brethren, and all that generation,Who being dead, and al his brethren, and al that generation,Quo mortuo, et universis fratribus ejus, omnique cognatione illa,
7the children of Israel increased, and as it were springing up did multiply: and growing strong exceedingly, filled the land.the children of Israel increased, and as it were springing vp did multiplie: and growing strong exceedingly, filled the land.filii Israël creverunt, et quasi germinantes multiplicati sunt : ac roborati nimis, impleverunt terram.
8In the meantime there arose a new king over Egypt, that knew not Joseph:In the meane time there arose a new king ouer Ægypt, that knew not Ioseph:Surrexit interea rex novus super Ægyptum, qui ignorabat Joseph.
9and he said to his people: Behold the people of the children of Israel is numerous, many · Vulgate: multus, and stronger than we.and he said to his people: Behold the people of the children of Israel is much, and stronger then we.Et ait ad populum suum : Ecce, populus filiorum Israël multus, et fortior nobis est.
10Come, let us wisely oppress the same, lest perhaps it multiply: and if there shall be war against us, it join with our enemies, and we being overthrown, they depart out of the land.Come, let vs wisely oppresse the same, lest perhaps it multiplie: and if there shal be warre against vs, it ioyne with our enemies, and we being ouerthrowne, they depart out of the land.Venite, sapienter opprimamus eum, ne forte multiplicetur : et si ingruerit contra nos bellum, addatur inimicis nostris, expugnatisque nobis egrediatur de terra.
11Therefore he set over them masters of the Vulgate: magistros operum: overseers of the forced labour, to afflict them with burdens: and they built unto Pharao cities of Vulgate: urbes tabernaculorum: store-cities, supply depots, Phithom, and Ramesses.Therfore he set ouer them maisters of the workes, to afflict them with burdens: and they built vnto Pharao cities of tabernacles, Phithom, and Ramesses.Præposuit itaque eis magistros operum, ut affligerent eos oneribus : ædificaveruntque urbes tabernaculorum Pharaoni, Phithom et Ramesses.
12And the more they did oppress them, so much the more they multiplied, and increased:And the more they did oppresse them, so much the more they multiplied, and increased:Quantoque opprimebant eos, tanto magis multiplicabantur, et crescebant :
13and the Egyptians hated the children of Israel, and deriding afflicted them:and the Ægyptians hated the children of Israel, and deriding afflicted them:oderantque filios Israël Ægyptii, et affligebant illudentes eis,
14and they brought their life into bitterness with the hard works of clay, and brick, and with all service, wherewith they were pressed in the works of the earth.and they brought their life into bitternes with the hard workes of clay, and bricke, and with al seruice, wherewith they were pressed in the workes of the earth.atque ad amaritudinem perducebant vitam eorum operibus duris luti et lateris, omnique famulatu, quo in terræ operibus premebantur.
15And the King of Egypt said to the midwives of the Hebrews: of whom one was called Sephora, the other Phua,And the King of Ægypt said to the midwiues of the Hebrewes: of whom one was called Sephora, the other Phua,Dixit autem rex Ægypti obstetricibus Hebræorum, quarum una vocabatur Sephora, altera Phua,
16commanding them: When you shall be midwives to the Hebrew women, and the time of delivery is come: if it be a man-child, kill it: if a woman, keep alive, spare, not modern "set aside" · Vulgate: reservate her.commanding them: When you shal be midwiues to the Hebrew wemen, and the time of deliuerie is come: if it be a manchild, kil it: if a woman, reserue her.præcipiens eis : Quando obstetricabitis Hebræas, et partus tempus advenerit : si masculus fuerit, interficite eum : si femina, reservate.
17But the midwives feared God, and did not according to the commandment of the king of Egypt, but preserved the men-children.But the midwiues feared God, and did not according to the commandement of the king of Ægypt, but preserued the menchildren.Timuerunt autem obstetrices Deum, et non fecerunt juxta præceptum regis Ægypti, sed conservabant mares.
18To whom being called unto him, the king said: What is this that you meant to do, that you would save the men-children?To whom being called vnto him, the king said: What is this that you meant to do, that you would saue the men-children?Quibus ad se accersitis, rex ait : Quidnam est hoc quod facere voluistis, ut pueros servaretis ?
19Who answered: The Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women: for they have the knowledge to play the midwife themselves, and before we come to them, they are delivered.Who answered: The Hebrew wemem are not as the Ægyptian wemen: for they haue the knowledge to play the mindwife them selues, and before we come to them, they are deliuered.Quæ responderunt : Non sunt Hebrææ sicut ægyptiæ mulieres : ipsæ enim obstetricandi habent scientiam, et priusquam veniamus ad eas, pariunt.
20God therefore did well to the midwives: and the people increased, and became strong exceedingly.God therfore did wel to the midwiues: and the people encreased, and became strong exceedingly.Bene ergo fecit Deus obstetricibus : et crevit populus, confortatusque est nimis.
21And because the midwives feared God, he built them houses.And Because the midwiues feared God, he built them houses.Et quia timuerunt obstetrices Deum, ædificavit eis domos.
22Pharao therefore commanded all his people, saying: Whatsoever shall be born of the male sex, cast it into the river: whatsoever of the female, reserve it.Pharao therefore commanded al his people, saying: Whatsoeuer shal be borne of the male sex, cast it into the riuer: whatsoeuer of the female, reserue it.Præcepit ergo Pharao omni populo suo, dicens : Quidquid masculini sexus natum fuerit, in flumen projicite : quidquid feminini, reservate.
Annotations
1:17But the midwives feared God. In commendation of the midwives not obeying the king's commandment, Moyses opposeth the fear of God, to the fear of Princes: shewing thereby that when their commandments are contrary, the subjects must fear God, and not do that which the Prince commandeth. So did our Saviour himself teach, and that for fear of damnation, saying: Fear him who hath power to cast into hell. And so his Apostles indued with the Holy Ghost, practised, answering in this case, that they must hear God rather than men. Again, God must be obeyed rather than men: always understood, when they are contrary. For otherwise both St. Peter and St. Paul teach us, that Princes, yea Infidels, of whom they especially speak, must be obeyed.
1:19Hebrew women are not. Herein the midwives sinned. For it is never lawful to lie. Because the law of God is truth, whereby St. Augustine proveth (contra mendacium c. 10) that whatsoever varieth from truth is unlawful. When therefore (saith he) examples of lying are proposed to us out of holy Scripture, either they are not lies, but are thought to be, whiles they are not understood, or if they be lies, they are not to be imitated, because they are unlawful. St. Gregory teacheth the same (Moralia l. 18 c. 26): Quia profecto ab equitate discrepat, quicquid a veritate discordat, Because assuredly whatsoever disagreeth from verity, differeth from equity. Yet these Fathers hold such an officious lie, as this was, to be a less sin, and more easily pardoned, and purged by good works following.
1:21Because the midwives feared God. Fear of God as it is properly taken in holy Scripture, is that holy fear, by which the children of God refrain from sin, and that with temporal danger, lest they should offend the divine Majesty. So these midwives endangering their own lives, by not fulfilling Pharao's commandment, had the true fear of God, and for the same were rewarded, as is most probable, eternally: though mention be here made only of temporal reward, after the manner of the old Testament. Where such promises were made to Abraham, and other most godly Patriarchs, for an essay only and taste of everlasting life, which is more expressly promised in the Gospel of Christ, as St. Jerome teacheth, Epist. ad Dardanum.