Exodus 1:3

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.

(3-4) Reuben . . . — The sons of the legitimate wives are placed first, then those of the concubines. Leah has precedence over Rachel; Bilhah over Zilpah. The children of each wife and concubine are given in order of seniority. The omission of Joseph from the list is explained in the last clause of Exodus 1:5 .

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).

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.

1 . Now (Heb. And ) these are the names of …] As Genesis 25:13 ; Genesis 36:40 ; Genesis 46:8 ; Exodus 6:16 , &c. (all P). 1–5 . Recapitulation, as the introduction to a new section, of what had been stated before respecting the sons of Jacob ( Genesis 35:23-26 ), and the numbers of his descendants who had gone down into Egypt ( Genesis 46:8 ; Genesis 46:26 f.). 1–7 . Growth of the descendants of Jacob in Egypt, after Joseph’s death, into a great people.

[Reformed Biblical] But if there was any defect in the numbers proposed in the first fifty-five years, it might be abundantly compensated in the one hundred and forty- five years succeeding. And so the computation remains good. Exodus 1:8 ## A new king, i.e. another king; one of another disposition, or interest, or family; for the kingdom of Egypt did oft pass from one family to another, as appears from the history of the Dynastics recorded in ancient writers. ## Which knew not Joseph, or, acknowledged not the vast obligations which Joseph had laid not only upon the kingdoms of Egypt, and the king under whom Joseph lived, but upon all his successors, in regard of those vast additions of wealth and power which he had made to that crown. This phrase notes his ungrateful disowning and ill requiting of Joseph’s favours. For words of knowledge in Scripture commonly include the affections and actions; as men are oft said not to know God, when they do not love nor serve him; and God is said not to know men, when he doth not love them. Exodus 1:9 This was not a true, but an invidious representation and aggravation of the matter, the better to justify the sororities which he designed. Exodus 1:10 War was not unusual in that country. So get them up out of the land, which they might easily learn from some of the Hebrews, that they were in due time to do. And they were very unwillin