Exodus 1:1-21 (midwives)
15 The king of Egypt said to the Hebrew midwives, whose names were Shifra and Puah, 16 "When you help the Hebrew women in childbirth and observe them on the delivery stool, if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, let her live." 17 The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. 18 Then the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and asked them, "Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?"
19 The midwives answered Pharaoh, "Hebrew women are not like Egyptian women; they are vigorous and give birth before the midwives arrive."
20 So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous. 21 And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own.
Discussion Questions
- It is somewhat ambiguous in the text whether these midwives are themselves Hebrews or whether they are midwives who serve the Hebrew community. Do you think it matters? How might their identities as Hebrews or non-Hebrews change the way we understand their actions?
- The midwives disobey Pharoah because they fear God. What do you think "fear of God" means? Is this a motivation that resonates with you?
- Would you characterize the actions of Shiphra and Puah as civil disobedience? Why or why not?
My daughter is in labor to deliver a baby I asked God to delivered her quickly as Shiphra and Puah said to Pharaoh. Before even the mid-wives arrived the baby is born.
Very good text to read, when My eldest daughter is about to give birth.GOD, help My daughter.
The midwives were wise. They knew how to respond to the king without showing direct disobedience. The fear of God births wisdom... They did what is right with God but not with the king. Since they understood the supreme law.
They didn't lie as civil disobedience but they understood right to life.
Above all God has His people and I believe it's God who influenced them to speak to do what they did n
Why does it matter if the midwives are Hebrew or Egyptian in cases of genocide? Please know that at this time, there were no people of European descent. Therefore, the scripture speaks of people of African descent. Since this is the framework, let's ask that question again: "Does Puah's and Shiphrah's ethnicities matter?" Absolutely, YES. People of African descent think in terms of community - not individualistically. Because of their culture, Puah and Shiphrah could not be complicit but used their agency to save a whole people group. They were not interested in being in Pharaoh's good graces. The lives of an entire nation was on the line. So yes, because of their culture to have compassion for these families who entrusted their little ones to their care, it does matter. Their compassion drove them to do something about it. Through their actions, they said, "NO." Other ethnicities tend to only be concerned about themselves as individuals because they seek power in that way. Shiphrah and Puah were not entangled with the "power over" motif that characterize other ethnicities that wreak havoc and destruction on people they have "OTHERED."
They did not lie they were tempted by the kings order and God gave them a way out. Remember the word of God in the Book of Corinthians says God never allow us to be tempted more than we can bear and in each and every temptation He provides a way out that's my take
Not only may they have not lied, they may have also said straight to the kings face that they purposely disobeyed his order. Because if in fact the Hebrew women were vigorous and the midwives knew that then why didnt they get there before the birth. Looks like maybe they didn't lie and not only that openly defied the wicked kings order and told him ,in so many words, to his face. Haaa now that would be funny.
Perhaps they didn't lie. There are women who are "vigorous " and labor very quickly. Maybe they knew the Hebrew women all labor fast. So perhaps they didn't lie. Maybe they intentionally got to the women after they knew they had given birth so that they couldn't carry out the king's order.
The mid wifes lied to the king, can we say we can lie if necessary?
God's authority supercedes human authority and also He rules every heart. He alone must be obed.
It really doesn't matter what ethnicity these women were what is important to know is your obedience to any ruler in any era stop where being obedient to them will violate God's laws
It's my first time to understand that God gives families to those that fear him. Am gratefully blessed
I love the action of these women, it doesn’t matter whether they are identified as Hebrews or non-Hebrews. What is really great about them is, they “feared God” and protected life …
I believe in God and I love those Hebrew women for obeying God
Wow l like this
These midwives were led by the holy spirit, because God's spirit can work in many ways
This is the most wonderful witness on earth about midwives
I don't think the midwives lied because it was said in verse 17 that the midwives feared the Lord. If they had lied, it would have been recorded that and 'the midwives lied'.
In reply to I don't think the midwives… by lorhlar
Oh they lied to Pharaoh, fearing the lord does not mean they did not lie to Pharaoh.
Abraham feared the lord but still “Lied” that Sarah is his sister.
I guess what I am saying is absolutism in Christianity (when dealing with a lesser authority(pharaoh) and a higher authority (God) if the expectation of the lesser authority contradicts that of the higher authority lying to the lesser authority is not counter as sin. In this case their fear of God caused them to lie to Pharaoh(the lesser authority)
Interesting, because it appears the midwives lied to pharaoh. Seems to counter what some preach say never lie no exemption, along with what Rahab did.
Let the kindness of the Lord be upon women
I am intrigued with the root meaning of verse 21. What is translated “families of their own” can also be translated “households” or “houses”. I’m still confused about the real meaning of this verse. Is there anything in the Hebrew that could be describing some ‘wall of protection’ or ‘’fortress’? The context of this verse seems to allude to something of that nature. Can a Hebrew scholar provide input, please?