Exodus 1:2

1:1-7 During more than 200 years, while Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob lived at liberty, the Hebrews increased slowly; only about seventy persons went down into Egypt. There, in about the same number of years, though under cruel bondage, they became a large nation. This wonderful increase was according to the promise long before made unto the fathers. Though the performance of God's promises is sometimes slow, it is always sure.

Now these are the names of the children of Israel which came down into Egypt,.... Of the twelve patriarchs, the sons of Jacob, who were heads of the twelve tribes, whose names are here given; since the historian is about to give an account of their coming out of Egypt, and that it might be observed how greatly they increased in it, and how exactly the promise to Abraham, of the multiplication of his seed, was fulfilled: or, "and these are the names" (b), &c. this book being connected with the former by the copulative "and"; and when this was wrote, it is highly probable there was no division of the books made, but the history proceeded in one continued account: every man and his household came with Jacob; into Egypt, all excepting Joseph, and along with them their families, wives, children, and servants; though wives and servants are not reckoned into the number of the seventy, only such as came out of Jacob's loins: the Targum of Jonathan is,"a man with the men of his house,''as if only male children were meant, the sons of Jacob and his grandsons; and Aben Ezra observes, that women were never reckoned in Scripture as of the household or family; but certainly Dinah, and Serah, as they came into Egypt with Jacob, are reckoned among the seventy that came with him thither, Genesis 46:15. (b) "et haec", Pagninus, Montanus, Drusius.

Verses 2-5. - The sons of the legitimate wives Leah and Rachel are placed first, in the order of their seniority ( Genesis 29:32-35 ; Genesis 30:18-20 ; Genesis 35:18 ); then these of the secondary wives, or concubines, also in the order of their birth ( Genesis 30:6-13 ). The order is different from that observed in Genesis 46 , and seems intended to do honour to legitimate, as opposed to secondary, wedlock. The omission of Joseph follows necessarily from the exact form of the opening phrase, "These are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt with Jacob." Verse 5. - All the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls . This is manifestly intended as a repetition of Genesis 46:27 , and throws the reader back upon the details there adduced, which make up the exact number of "seventy souls," by the inclusion of Jacob himself, of Joseph, and of Joseph's two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. The inaccuracy by which Jacob is counted among his own descendants, is thoroughly Oriental and Hebraistic, however opposed to Western habits of thought. To stumble at it shows a narrow and carping spirit. (Compare note on Genesis 46:15.) For Joseph was in Egypt already . Joseph, i.e ., has not been mentioned with the other sons of Jacob, since he did not "come into Egypt with Jacob," but was there previously. The transfer of the clause to the commencement of the verse, which is made by the LXX., is unnecessary. Exodus 1:2

Now - Literally, "And," indicating a close connection with the preceding narrative. In fact this chapter contains a fulfillment of the predictions recorded in Genesis 46:3 and in Genesis 15:13 . Every man and his household - It may be inferred from various notices that the total number of dependents was considerable, a point of importance in its bearings upon the history of the Exodus (compare Genesis 13:6; Genesis 14:14).

THE SECOND BOOK OF MOSES, CALLED EXODUS. Commentary by Robert Jamieson CHAPTER 1 Ex 1:1-22. Increase of the Israelites. 1. Now these are the names—(See Ge 46:8-26).The names and numbers of the children of Israel that came into Egypt, Exo 1:1-5. Joseph, his brethren, and that generation die, Exo 1:6. A new king, who knew not Joseph, Exo 1:8, goeth about by affliction, & c. to suppress the Israelites, Exo 1:9-11. They increase, Exo 1:12. Pharaoh commands the midwives to kill the male children, Exo 1:15,16. They fear God, and obey not the king, Exo 1:17. For this God blesseth the midwives, Exo 1:20. Pharaoh commands all the male children to be drowned, Exo 1:22. This list is here repeated, that by comparing this small root with so vast a company of branches as grew upon it, we may see the wonderful providence of God in the fulfilling of his promises. And his household, his children and grandchildren, as the word house is taken Rth 4:11 2Sa 7:11 1Ki 21:29.

To place the multiplication of the children of Israel into a strong nation in its true light, as the commencement of the realization of the promises of God, the number of the souls that went down with Jacob to Egypt is repeated from Genesis 46:27 (on the number 70, in which Jacob is included, see the notes on this passage); and the repetition of the names of the twelve sons of Jacob serves to give to the history which follows a character of completeness within itself. "With Jacob they came, every one and his house," i.e., his sons, together with their families, their wives, and their children. The sons are arranged according to their mothers, as in Genesis 35:23-26 , and the sons of the two maid-servants stand last. Joseph, indeed, is not placed in the list, but brought into special prominence by the words, "for Joseph was in Egypt" ( Exodus 1:5 ), since he did not go down to Egypt along with the house of Jacob, and occupied an exalted position in relation to them there.

[Bible] 50:23. After which he told his brethren: God will visit you after my death, and will make you go up out of this land, to the land which he swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 50:24. And he made them swear to him, saying: God will visit you, carry my bones with you out of this place: 50:25. And he died, being a hundred and ten years old. And being embalmed, he was laid in a coffin in Egypt. THE BOOK OF EXODUS The Second Book of Moses is called EXODUS, from the Greek word EXODOS, which signifies going out: because it contains the history of the going out of the children of Israel out of Egypt. The Hebrews, from the words with which it begins, call it VEELLE SEMOTH: These are the names. It contains transactions for 145 years; that is, from the death of Joseph to the erecting of the tabernacle. Exodus Chapter 1 The Israelites are multiplied in Egypt. They are oppressed by a new king, who commandeth all their male children to be killed. 1:1. These are the names of the children of Israel, that went into Egypt with Jacob: they went in every man with his household: 1:2. Ruben, Simeon, Levi, Juda, 1:3. Issachar, Zabulon, and Benjamin, 1:4. Dan, and Nephthali, Gad and Aser. 1:5. And all the souls that came out of Jacob's thigh, were seventy: but Joseph was in Egypt. 1:6. After he was dead, and all his brethren, and all that generation, 1:7. The children of Israel increased, and sprung up into multitudes, and growing exceedingly strong they filled the land. 1:8. In the mean time there arose a new king over Egypt, that knew not Joseph: 1:9. And he said to his people: Behold the people of the children of Israel are numerous and stronger than we. 1:10. Come let us wisely oppress them, lest they multiply: and if any war shall rise against us, join with our enemies, and having overcome us, depart out of the land. 1:11. Therefore he set over them masters of the works, to afflict them with burdens: and they built for Pharao cities of tabernacles, Phithom, and Ramesses.

This Patriarch blest, Whom _Faithful Abraham_ due time shall call, A Son, and of his Son a Grand-childe leaves, Like him in faith, in wisdom, and renown; The Grandchilde with twelve Sons increast, departs From _Canaan_, to a Land hereafter call’d _Egypt_, divided by the River _Nile_; See where it flows, disgorging at seaven mouthes Into the Sea: to sojourn in that Land He comes invited by a yonger Son In time of dearth, a Son whose worthy deeds Raise him to be the second in that Realme Of _Pharao_: there he dies, and leaves his Race Growing into a Nation, and now grown Suspected to a sequent King, who seeks To stop thir overgrowth, as inmate guests Too numerous; whence of guests he makes them slaves Inhospitably, and kills thir infant Males: Till by two brethren (those two brethren call _Moses_ and _Aaron_) sent from God to claime His people from enthralment, they return With glory and spoile back to thir promis’d Land