mh_parser/vol_split/2 - Exodus/Chapter 1.xml

<div2 id="Ex.ii" n="ii" next="Ex.iii" prev="Ex.i" progress="31.12%" title="Chapter I">
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<h2 id="Ex.ii-p0.1">E X O D U S</h2>
<h3 id="Ex.ii-p0.2">CHAP. I.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Ex.ii-p1">We have here, I. God's kindness to Israel, in
multiplying them exceedingly, (<scripRef id="Ex.ii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.1.1-Exod.1.7" parsed="|Exod|1|1|1|7" passage="Ex 1:1-7">ver.
1-7</scripRef>). II. The Egyptians' wickedness to them, 1.
Oppressing and enslaving them, (<scripRef id="Ex.ii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.1.8-Exod.1.14" parsed="|Exod|1|8|1|14" passage="Ex 1:8-14">ver.
8-14</scripRef>). 2. Murdering their children, (<scripRef id="Ex.ii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.1.15-Exod.1.22" parsed="|Exod|1|15|1|22" passage="Ex 1:15-22">ver. 15-22</scripRef>). Thus whom the court of heaven
blessed the country of Egypt cursed, and for that reason.</p>
<scripCom id="Ex.ii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Exod.1" parsed="|Exod|1|0|0|0" passage="Ex 1" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ex.ii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Exod.1.1-Exod.1.7" parsed="|Exod|1|1|1|7" passage="Ex 1:1-7" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Exod.1.1-Exod.1.7">
<h4 id="Ex.ii-p1.6">The Israelites Oppressed in
Egypt. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Ex.ii-p1.7">b. c.</span> 1588.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Ex.ii-p2">1 Now these <i>are</i> the names of the children
of Israel, which came into Egypt; every man and his household came
with Jacob.   2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,   3
Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin,   4 Dan, and Naphtali, Gad,
and Asher.   5 And all the souls that came out of the loins of
Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt <i>already.</i>
  6 And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that
generation.   7 And the children of Israel were fruitful, and
increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty;
and the land was filled with them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.ii-p3">In these verses we have, 1. A recital of
the names of the <i>twelve patriarchs,</i> as they are called,
<scripRef id="Ex.ii-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Acts.7.8" parsed="|Acts|7|8|0|0" passage="Ac 7:8">Acts vii. 8</scripRef>. Their names are
often repeated in scripture, that they may not sound uncouth to us,
as other hard names, but that, by their occurring so frequently,
they may become familiar to us; and to show how precious God's
spiritual Israel are to him, and how much he delights in them. 2.
The account which was kept of the number of Jacob's family, when
they went down into Egypt; they were in all <i>seventy souls</i>
(<scripRef id="Ex.ii-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Exod.1.5" parsed="|Exod|1|5|0|0" passage="Ex 1:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>). according to
the computation we had, <scripRef id="Ex.ii-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.46.27" parsed="|Gen|46|27|0|0" passage="Ge 46:27">Gen. xlvi.
27</scripRef>. This was just the number of the nations by which the
earth was peopled, according to the account given, <scripRef id="Ex.ii-p3.4" osisRef="Bible:Gen.10.1-Gen.10.32" parsed="|Gen|10|1|10|32" passage="Ge 10:1-32">Gen. x.</scripRef> <i>For

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when the Most High separated the sons of Adam, he
set the bounds of the people according to the number of the
children of Israel,</i> as Moses observes, <scripRef id="Ex.ii-p3.5" osisRef="Bible:Deut.32.8" parsed="|Deut|32|8|0|0" passage="De 32:8">Deut. xxxii. 8</scripRef>. Notice is here taken of this
that their increase in Egypt might appear the more wonderful. Note,
It is good for those whose latter end greatly increases often to
remember how small their beginning was, <scripRef id="Ex.ii-p3.6" osisRef="Bible:Job.8.7" parsed="|Job|8|7|0|0" passage="Job 8:7">Job viii. 7</scripRef>. 3. The death of Joseph, <scripRef id="Ex.ii-p3.7" osisRef="Bible:Exod.1.6" parsed="|Exod|1|6|0|0" passage="Ex 1:6"><i>v.</i> 6</scripRef>. <i>All that generation</i>
by degrees wore off. Perhaps all Jacob's sons died much about the
same time; for there was not more than seven years' difference in
age between the eldest and the youngest of them, except Benjamin;
and, when death comes into a family, sometimes it makes a full end
in a little time. When Joseph, the stay of the family, died, the
rest went off apace. Note, We must look upon ourselves and our
brethren, and all we converse with, as dying and hastening out of
the world. This generation passeth away, as that did which went
before. 4. The strange increase of Israel in Egypt, <scripRef id="Ex.ii-p3.8" osisRef="Bible:Exod.1.7" parsed="|Exod|1|7|0|0" passage="Ex 1:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>. Here are four words used
to express it: They <i>were fruitful,</i> and <i>increased
abundantly,</i> like fishes or insects, so that they
<i>multiplied;</i> and, being generally healthful and strong, they
<i>waxed exceedingly mighty,</i> so that they began almost to
outnumber the natives, for the land was in all places filled with
them, at least Goshen, their own allotment. Observe, (1.) Though,
no doubt, they increased considerably before, yet, it should seem,
it was not till after the death of Joseph that it began to be taken
notice of as extraordinary. Thus, when they lost the benefit of his
protection, God made their numbers their defence, and they became
better able than they had been to shift for themselves. If God
continue our friends and relations to us while we most need them,
and remove them when they can be better spared, let us own that he
is wise, and not complain that he is hard upon us. After the death
of Christ, our Joseph, his gospel Israel began most remarkably to
increase: and his death had an influence upon it; it was like the
sowing of a corn of wheat, which, if it die, bringeth forth much
fruit, <scripRef id="Ex.ii-p3.9" osisRef="Bible:John.12.24" parsed="|John|12|24|0|0" passage="Joh 12:24">John xii. 24</scripRef>. (2.)
This wonderful increase was the fulfillment of the promise long
before made unto the fathers. From the call of Abraham, when God
first told him he would make of him a great nation, to the
deliverance of his seed out of Egypt, it was 430 years, during the
first 215 of which they were increased but to seventy, but, in the
latter half, those seventy multiplied to 600,000 fighting men.
Note, [1.] Sometimes God's providences may seem for a great while
to thwart his promises, and to go counter to them, that his
people's faith may be tried, and his own power the more magnified.
[2.] Though the performance of God's promises is sometimes slow,
yet it is always sure; <i>at the end it shall speak, and not
lie,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.ii-p3.10" osisRef="Bible:Hab.2.3" parsed="|Hab|2|3|0|0" passage="Hab 2:3">Hab. ii. 3</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ex.ii-p3.11" osisRef="Bible:Exod.1.8-Exod.1.14" parsed="|Exod|1|8|1|14" passage="Ex 1:8-14" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Exod.1.8-Exod.1.14">
<p class="passage" id="Ex.ii-p4">8 Now there arose up a new king over Egypt,
which knew not Joseph.   9 And he said unto his people,
Behold, the people of the children of Israel <i>are</i> more and
mightier than we:   10 Come on, let us deal wisely with them;
lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth
out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us,
and <i>so</i> get them up out of the land.   11 Therefore they
did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens.
And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.
  12 But the more they afflicted them, the more they
multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children
of Israel.   13 And the Egyptians made the children of Israel
to serve with rigour:   14 And they made their lives bitter
with hard bondage, in mortar, and in brick, and in all manner of
service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them
serve, <i>was</i> with rigour.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.ii-p5">The land of Egypt here, at length, becomes
to Israel a house of bondage, though hitherto it had been a happy
shelter and settlement for them. Note, The place of our
satisfaction may soon become the place of our affliction, and that
may prove the greatest cross to us of which we said, <i>This same
shall comfort us.</i> Those may prove our sworn enemies whose
parents were our faithful friends; nay, the same persons that loved
us may possibly turn to hate us: therefore cease from man, and say
not concerning any place on this side heaven, <i>This is my rest
for ever.</i> Observe here,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.ii-p6">I. The obligations they lay under to Israel
upon Joseph's account were forgotten: <i>There arose a new
king,</i> after several successions in Joseph's time, <i>who knew
not Joseph,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.ii-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.1.8" parsed="|Exod|1|8|0|0" passage="Ex 1:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>.
All that knew him loved him, and were kind to his relations for his
sake; but when he was dead he was soon forgotten, and the
remembrance of the good offices he had done was either not retained
or not regarded, nor had it any influence upon their councils.
Note, the best and the most useful and acceptable services done to
men are seldom remembered, so as to be recompensed to those that
did them, in the notice taken either of their memory, or of their
posterity, after their death, <scripRef id="Ex.ii-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Eccl.9.5 Bible:Eccl.9.15" parsed="|Eccl|9|5|0|0;|Eccl|9|15|0|0" passage="Ec 9:5,15">Eccl.
ix. 5, 15</scripRef>. Therefore our great care should be to serve
God, and please him, who is not unrighteous, whatever men are, to
forget our work and labour of love, <scripRef id="Ex.ii-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:Heb.6.10" parsed="|Heb|6|10|0|0" passage="Heb 6:10">Heb. vi. 10</scripRef>. If we work for men only, our
works, at furthest, will die with us; if for God, they will follow
us, <scripRef id="Ex.ii-p6.4" osisRef="Bible:Rev.14.13" parsed="|Rev|14|13|0|0" passage="Re 14:13">Rev. xiv. 13</scripRef>. This king
of Egypt knew not Joseph; and after him arose one that had the
impudence to say, <i>I know

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not the
Lord,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.ii-p6.5" osisRef="Bible:Exod.5.2" parsed="|Exod|5|2|0|0" passage="Ex 5:2"><i>ch.</i> v. 2</scripRef>.
Note, Those that are unmindful of their other benefactors, it is to
be feared, will forget the supreme benefactor, <scripRef id="Ex.ii-p6.6" osisRef="Bible:1John.4.20" parsed="|1John|4|20|0|0" passage="1Jo 4:20">1 John iv. 20</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.ii-p7">II. Reasons of state were suggested for
their dealing hardly with Israel, <scripRef id="Ex.ii-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.1.9-Exod.1.10" parsed="|Exod|1|9|1|10" passage="Ex 1:9,10"><i>v.</i> 9, 10</scripRef>. 1. They are represented as
more and mightier than the Egyptians; certainly they were not so,
but the king of Egypt, when he resolved to oppress them, would have
them thought so, and looked on as a formidable body. 2. Hence it is
inferred that if care were not taken to keep them under they would
become dangerous to the government, and in time of war would side
with their enemies and revolt from their allegiance to the crown of
Egypt. Note, It has been the policy of persecutors to represent
God's Israel as a dangerous people, <i>hurtful to kings and
provinces,</i> not fit to be trusted, nay, not fit to be tolerated,
that they may have some pretence for the barbarous treatment they
design them, <scripRef id="Ex.ii-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Ezra.4.12 Bible:Esth.3.8" parsed="|Ezra|4|12|0|0;|Esth|3|8|0|0" passage="Ezr 4:12,Es 3:8">Ezra iv. 12,
&amp;c.; Esth. iii. 8</scripRef>. Observe, The thing they feared
was lest they should <i>get them up out of the land,</i> probably
having heard them speak of the promise made to their fathers that
they should settle in Canaan. Note, The policies of the church's
enemies aim to defeat the promises of the church's God, but in
vain; God's counsels shall stand. 3. It is therefore proposed that
a course be taken to prevent their increase: <i>Come on, let us
deal wisely with them, lest they multiply.</i> Note, (1.) The
growth of Israel is the grief of Egypt, and that against which the
powers and policies of hell are levelled. (2.) When men deal
wickedly, it is common for them to imagine that they deal wisely;
but the folly of sin will, at last, be manifested before all
men.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.ii-p8">III. The method they took to suppress them,
and check their growth, <scripRef id="Ex.ii-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.1.11 Bible:Exod.1.13 Bible:Exod.1.14" parsed="|Exod|1|11|0|0;|Exod|1|13|0|0;|Exod|1|14|0|0" passage="Ex 1:11,13,14"><i>v.</i>
11, 13, 14</scripRef>. The Israelites behaved themselves so
peaceably and inoffensively that they could not find any occasion
of making war upon them, and weakening them by that means: and
therefore, 1. They took care to keep them poor, by charging them
with heavy taxes, which, some think, is included in the
<i>burdens</i> with which they afflicted them. 2. By this means
they took an effectual course to make them slaves. The Israelites,
it should seem, were much more industrious laborious people than
the Egyptians, and therefore Pharaoh took care to find them work,
both in building (they built him <i>treasure-cities</i>), and in
husbandry, even <i>all manner of service in the field:</i> and this
was exacted from them with the utmost rigour and severity. Here are
many expressions used, to affect us with the condition of God's
people. They had <i>taskmasters</i> set over them, who were
directed, not only to burden them, but, as much as might be, <i>to
afflict them with their burdens,</i> and contrive how to make them
grievous. They not only made them serve, which was sufficient for
Pharaoh's profit, but they made them <i>serve with rigour,</i> so
that their lives became bitter to them, intending hereby, (1.) To
break their spirits, and rob them of every thing in them that was
ingenuous and generous. (2.) To ruin their health and shorten their
days, and so diminish their numbers. (3.) To discourage them from
marrying, since their children would be born to slavery. (4.) To
oblige them to desert the Hebrews, and incorporate themselves with
the Egyptians. Thus he hoped to cut off the name of Israel, that it
might be no more in remembrance. And it is to be feared that the
oppression they were under had this bad effect upon them, that it
brought over many of them to join with the Egyptians in their
idolatrous worship; for we read (<scripRef id="Ex.ii-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Josh.24.14" parsed="|Josh|24|14|0|0" passage="Jos 24:14">Josh. xxiv. 14</scripRef>) that they served other gods
in Egypt; and, though it is not mentioned here in this history, yet
we find (<scripRef id="Ex.ii-p8.3" osisRef="Bible:Ezek.20.8" parsed="|Ezek|20|8|0|0" passage="Eze 20:8">Ezek. xx. 8</scripRef>) that
God had threatened to destroy them for it, even while they were in
the land of Egypt: however, they were kept a distinct body,
unmingled with the Egyptians, and by their other customs separated
from them, which was <i>the Lord's doing, and marvellous.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.ii-p9">IV. The wonderful increase of the
Israelites, notwithstanding the oppressions they groaned under
(<scripRef id="Ex.ii-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.1.12" parsed="|Exod|1|12|0|0" passage="Ex 1:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>): <i>The more
they afflicted them the more they multiplied,</i> sorely to the
grief and vexation of the Egyptians. Note, 1. Times of affliction
have often been the church's growing times, <i>Sub pondere
crescit—Being pressed, it grows.</i> Christianity spread most when
it was persecuted: the blood of the martyrs was the seed of the
church. 2. Those that take counsel against the Lord and his Israel
do but imagine a vain thing (<scripRef id="Ex.ii-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.2.1" parsed="|Ps|2|1|0|0" passage="Ps 2:1">Ps. ii.
1</scripRef>), and create so much the greater vexation to
themselves: hell and earth cannot diminish those whom Heaven will
increase.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Ex.ii-p9.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.1" parsed="|Exod|1|0|0|0" passage="Ex 1" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Ex.ii-p9.4" osisRef="Bible:Exod.1.15-Exod.1.22" parsed="|Exod|1|15|1|22" passage="Ex 1:15-22" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Exod.1.15-Exod.1.22">
<p class="passage" id="Ex.ii-p10">15 And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew
midwives, of which the name of the one <i>was</i> Shiphrah, and the
name of the other Puah:   16 And he said, When ye do the
office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see <i>them</i> upon
the stools; if it <i>be</i> a son, then ye shall kill him: but if
it <i>be</i> a daughter, then she shall live.   17 But the
midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded
them, but saved the men children alive.   18 And the king of
Egypt called for the midwives, and said unto them, Why have ye done
this thing, and have saved the men children alive?   19 And
the midwives said unto Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women <i>are</i>
not as the Egyptian women; for they <i>are</i> lively, and are
delivered ere the midwives come in unto them.   20 Therefore
God dealt well with the midwives:

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and the
people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.   21 And it came to
pass, because the midwives feared God, that he made them houses.
  22 And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son
that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye
shall save alive.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.ii-p11">The Egyptians' indignation at Israel's
increase, notwithstanding the many hardships they put upon them,
drove them at length to the most barbarous and inhuman methods of
suppressing them, by the murder of their children. It was strange
that they did not rather pick quarrels with the grown men, against
whom they might perhaps find some occasion: to be thus bloody
towards the infants, whom all must own to be innocents, was a sin
which they had to cloak for. Note, 1. There is more cruelty in the
corrupt heart of man than one would imagine, <scripRef id="Ex.ii-p11.1" osisRef="Bible:Rom.3.15-Rom.3.16" parsed="|Rom|3|15|3|16" passage="Ro 3:15,16">Rom. iii. 15, 16</scripRef>. The enmity that is in the
seed of the serpent against the seed of the woman divests men of
humanity itself, and makes them forget all pity. One would not
think it possible that ever men should be so barbarous and
blood-thirsty as the persecutors of God's people have been,
<scripRef id="Ex.ii-p11.2" osisRef="Bible:Rev.17.6" parsed="|Rev|17|6|0|0" passage="Re 17:6">Rev. xvii. 6</scripRef>. 2. Even
confessed innocence is no defence against the old enmity. What
blood so guiltless as that of a child new-born? Yet that is
prodigally shed like water, and sucked with delight like milk or
honey. Pharaoh and Herod sufficiently proved themselves agents for
that <i>great red dragon, who stood to devour the man-child as soon
as it was born,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.ii-p11.3" osisRef="Bible:Rev.12.3-Rev.12.4" parsed="|Rev|12|3|12|4" passage="Re 12:3,4">Rev. xii. 3,
4</scripRef>. Pilate delivered Christ to be crucified, after he had
confessed that he found no fault in him. It is well for us that,
though man can kill the body, this is all he can do. Two bloody
edicts are here signed for the destruction of all the male children
that were born to the Hebrews.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.ii-p12">I. The midwives were commanded to murder
them. Observe, 1. The orders given them, <scripRef id="Ex.ii-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.1.15-Exod.1.16" parsed="|Exod|1|15|1|16" passage="Ex 1:15,16"><i>v.</i> 15, 16</scripRef>. It added much to the
barbarity of the intended executions that the <i>midwives</i> were
appointed to be the executioners; for it was to make them, not only
bloody, but perfidious, and to oblige them to betray a trust, and
to destroy those whom they undertook to save and help. Could he
think that their sex would admit such cruelty, and their employment
such base treachery? Note, Those who are themselves barbarous think
to find, or make, others as barbarous. Pharaoh's project was
secretly to engage the midwives to stifle the men-children as soon
as they were born, and then to lay it upon the difficulty of the
birth, or some mischance common in that case, <scripRef id="Ex.ii-p12.2" osisRef="Bible:Job.3.11" parsed="|Job|3|11|0|0" passage="Job 3:11">Job iii. 11</scripRef>. The two midwives he tampered
with in order hereunto are here named; and perhaps, at this time,
which was above eighty years before their going out of Egypt, those
two might suffice for all the Hebrew women, at least so many of
them as lay near the court, as it is plain by <scripRef id="Ex.ii-p12.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.2.5-Exod.2.6" parsed="|Exod|2|5|2|6" passage="Ex 2:5,6"><i>ch.</i> ii. 5, 6</scripRef>, many of them did, and of
them he was most jealous. They are called <i>Hebrew midwives,</i>
probably not because they were themselves Hebrews (for surely
Pharaoh could never expect they should be so barbarous to those of
their own nation), but because they were generally made use of by
the Hebrews; and, being Egyptians, he hoped to prevail with them.
2. Their pious disobedience to this impious command, <scripRef id="Ex.ii-p12.4" osisRef="Bible:Exod.1.17" parsed="|Exod|1|17|0|0" passage="Ex 1:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>. <i>They feared God,</i>
regarded his law, and dreaded his wrath more than Pharaoh's, and
therefore saved the men-children alive. Note, If men's commands be
any way contrary to the commands of God, we must obey God and not
man, <scripRef id="Ex.ii-p12.5" osisRef="Bible:Acts.4.19 Bible:Acts.5.29" parsed="|Acts|4|19|0|0;|Acts|5|29|0|0" passage="Ac 4:19,5:29">Acts iv. 19; v.
29</scripRef>. No power on earth can warrant us, much less oblige
us, to sin against God, our chief Lord. Again, Where the fear of
God rules in the heart, it will preserve it from the snare which
the inordinate fear of man brings. 3. Their justifying themselves
in this disobedience, when they were charged with it as a crime,
<scripRef id="Ex.ii-p12.6" osisRef="Bible:Exod.1.18" parsed="|Exod|1|18|0|0" passage="Ex 1:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>. They gave a
reason for it, which, it seems, God's gracious promise furnished
them with—that they came too late to do it, for generally the
children were born before they came, <scripRef id="Ex.ii-p12.7" osisRef="Bible:Exod.1.19" parsed="|Exod|1|19|0|0" passage="Ex 1:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>. I see no reason we have to doubt
the truth of this; it is plain that the Hebrews were now under an
extraordinary blessing of increase, which may well be supposed to
have this effect, that the women had very quick and easy labour,
and, the mothers and children being both lively, they seldom needed
the help of midwives: this these midwives took notice of, and,
concluding it to be the finger of God, were thereby emboldened to
disobey the king, in favour of those whom Heaven thus favoured, and
with this justified themselves before Pharaoh, when he called them
to an account for it. Some of the ancient Jews expound it thus,
<i>Ere the midwife comes to them they pray to their Father in
heaven, and he answereth them, and they do bring forth.</i> Note,
God is a readier help to his people in distress than any other
helpers are, and often anticipates them with the blessings of his
goodness; such deliverances lay them under peculiarly strong
obligations. 4. The recompence God gave them for their tenderness
towards his people: <i>He dealt well with them,</i> <scripRef id="Ex.ii-p12.8" osisRef="Bible:Exod.1.20" parsed="|Exod|1|20|0|0" passage="Ex 1:20"><i>v.</i> 20</scripRef>. Note, God will be
behind-hand with none for any kindness done to his people, taking
it as done to himself. In particular, <i>he made them houses</i>
(<scripRef id="Ex.ii-p12.9" osisRef="Bible:Exod.1.21" parsed="|Exod|1|21|0|0" passage="Ex 1:21"><i>v.</i> 21</scripRef>), built them
up into families, blessed their children, and prospered them in all
they did. Note, The services done for God's Israel are often repaid
in kind. The midwives kept up the Israelites' houses, and, in
recompence for it, <i>God made them houses.</i> Observe, The
recompence has relation to the principle upon which they went:
<i>Because they feared God, he made them houses.</i> Note, Religion
and piety are good friends to outward prosperity:

<pb id="Ex.ii-Page_274" n="274"/>

the fear of God in a house will help to build it up
and establish it. Dr. Lightfoot's notion of it is, That, for their
piety, they were married to Israelites, and Hebrew families were
built up by them.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Ex.ii-p13">II. When this project did not take effect,
Pharaoh gave public orders to all his people to drown all the male
children of the Hebrews, <scripRef id="Ex.ii-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.1.22" parsed="|Exod|1|22|0|0" passage="Ex 1:22"><i>v.</i>
22</scripRef>. We may suppose it was made highly penal for any to
know of the birth of a son to an Israelite, and not to give
information to those who were appointed to throw him into the
river. Note, The enemies of the church have been restless in their
endeavours to <i>wear out the saints of the Most High,</i>
<scripRef id="Ex.ii-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Dan.7.25" parsed="|Dan|7|25|0|0" passage="Da 7:25">Dan. vii. 25</scripRef>. But <i>he that
sits in heaven shall laugh at them.</i> See <scripRef id="Ex.ii-p13.3" osisRef="Bible:Ps.2.4" parsed="|Ps|2|4|0|0" passage="Ps 2:4">Ps. ii. 4</scripRef>.</p>
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