“And he said, When ye do the office of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them upon the stools; if it be a son, then ye shall kill him: but if it be a daughter, then she shall live.”
Exodus 1:16 is part of the narrative in the book of Exodus that describes the oppression of the Israelites in Egypt. In this particular verse, Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, gives a command to the Hebrew midwives. He instructs them that when they attend the Hebrew women in childbirth, if the child is a son, they are to kill the baby, but if it is a daughter, they are to let her live.
This command was given by Pharaoh as an attempt to curb the growth of the Israelite population. The Egyptians had become fearful of the increasing number of Hebrews in their midst and saw them as a potential threat. By ordering the midwives to kill the male children, Pharaoh hoped to control and diminish the Israelite population.
However, it is important to note that the midwives mentioned in this verse, Shiphrah and Puah, feared God and did not carry out Pharaoh’s command. In Exodus 1:17, it states, “But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.” Despite the risk to their own lives, they chose to disobey Pharaoh’s decree and allowed the male children to live.
The actions of Shiphrah and Puah demonstrate their deep reverence for God and their commitment to preserving life. Their courage and obedience to a higher authority illustrate their faith in God’s commandments and their understanding of the sanctity of human life.
Exodus 1:16 serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of standing up for what is right, even in the face of oppression or opposition. It shows that acts of resistance can be fueled by a fear of God and a desire to honor His principles. The actions of the midwives play a crucial role in the larger narrative of the Israelites’ liberation from bondage in Egypt, highlighting the faithfulness and protection of God in preserving His people.
Overall, Exodus 1:16 is a significant verse that highlights the moral courage of Shiphrah and Puah and the divine intervention that protected the lives of the Hebrew male children during a time of intense persecution and oppression.