These are the names of the sons of Israel who came into Egypt with Jacob, each with his household: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. The descendants of Jacob were seventy in all, for Joseph was already in Egypt. In time Joseph died, and all his brothers, and that entire generation. Yet the Israelites were fruitful and multiplied greatly; they increased in number and grew so exceedingly strong that the land was filled with them.
Then a new king arose over Egypt, one who knew nothing of Joseph. He said to his people, "Look at the Israelites! They have become far too numerous for us. Come, we must deal shrewdly with them, or they will grow still more, and if war breaks out, they may join our enemies, fight against us, and escape from the land." So slave masters were set over them to oppress them with forced labor, and they built for Pharaoh the store cities of Pithom and Rameses. But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread abroad, until the Egyptians came to dread them.
The Egyptians worked them ruthlessly. They made their lives bitter with harsh service—in brick and mortar, and in every kind of labor in the fields. In all their toil, they were treated with cruelty.
Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah. "When you assist the Hebrew women in childbirth," he said, "if you see that it is a son, kill him; but if it is a daughter, let her live." Yet the midwives feared God and did not do as the king commanded, but let the boys live.
The king summoned the midwives and demanded, "Why have you done this? Why have you let the boys live?" They answered Pharaoh, "The Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; they are strong and give birth before the midwives arrive." Because the midwives feared God, He dealt kindly with them, and gave them families of their own.
But Pharaoh grew more ruthless still, and he commanded all his people: "Every son that is born to the Hebrews you must cast into the Nile, but let every daughter live."