The Hebrew Midwives

(6) Joseph died, and all his brothers, and all that generation. (7) But the Israelites were fertile and prolific; they multiplied and increased very greatly, so that the land was filled with them. (8) A new Pharaoh arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph. (9) And he said to his people, “Look, the Israelite people are much too numerous for us. (10) Let us deal shrewdly with them, so that they may not increase; otherwise in the event of war they may join our enemies in fighting against us.” (11) So they set taskmasters over them to oppress them with forced labor; and they built cities for Pharaoh. (12) But the more the Israelites were oppressed, the more they increased and spread out, so that the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites. (13) The Egyptians ruthlessly imposed upon the Israelites (14) the various labors that they made them perform. They made life bitter for them with harsh labor at mortar and bricks and with all sorts of tasks in the field. (15) Pharaoh spoke to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah, (16) saying, “When you help the Hebrew women give birth, look at the baby: if it is a boy, kill him; if it is a girl, let her live.” (17) The midwives, fearing God, did not do as Pharaoh had told them; they let the boys live. (18) So Pharaoh summoned the midwives and said to them, “Why have you done this thing, letting the boys live!?” (19) The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women: they are vigorous. Before a midwife can even come to their side, they have given birth.” (20) And God dealt well with the midwives; and the people multiplied and increased greatly.