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.
הָ֥בָה נִֽתְחַכְּמָ֖ה ל֑וֹ פֶּן־יִרְבֶּ֗ה וְהָיָ֞ה כִּֽי־תִקְרֶ֤אנָה מִלְחָמָה֙ וְנוֹסַ֤ף גַּם־הוּא֙ עַל־שֹׂ֣נְאֵ֔ינוּ וְנִלְחַם־בָּ֖נוּ וְעָלָ֥ה מִן־הָאָֽרֶץ׃
5 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Reflect on the period following the passing of Jacob and Joseph, when the Pharaoh of Egypt sought diligently to diminish their descendants and hinder their growth. Remarkably, his attempts were in vain, as Jacob’s lineage continued to flourish and expand. Stand in awe of God’s Providence and understand that His will is unassailable, regardless of the many challenges orchestrated against it.
What troubled the leader of Egypt, I believe, was the thought that those who had been forced into servitude without their agreement might one day even consider the possibility of liberation.
The new ruler arose and commanded the extermination of the Hebrew children. His motives were clear. Satan, aware that the four centuries prophesied to Abraham in Genesis 15:13 had come to fruition, sought to eliminate the savior of the Hebrews by slaughtering the infants. This urgency was heightened as their adversaries, seeking to confirm their insight into the future now that the designated period of the Hebrews’ stay in Egypt was concluding, predicted their imminent liberation; thus, Pharaoh ordered the execution of the newborns.
The proclamation of the Egyptian monarch, indicating that the Israelites were increasing in both number and strength compared to the Egyptians, highlights that the growth of the Israelites was significantly more rapid than the expansion of the Egyptian populace. This advantage of the Israelites, beyond favorable natural and social conditions, primarily stemmed from the divine Providence of God, which shielded them from the severe afflictions that afflicted the local population, such as the prevalent diseases of the Nile valley, famine, warfare, and various other calamities. The king conspired, saying, “Come, let us outwit them, lest they multiply,” which reveals his intent to employ clever strategies to hinder their further growth.
The measures Pharaoh adopted for this purpose were harsh and cruel, meriting the label of strategy solely because they deprived the numerous and resilient Hebrews of the ability to oppose their oppressors. Pharaoh perceived it as essential to curtail the Hebrew population through cunning and ruthless tactics, driven by a state of fear that, should the Hebrews grow in number, they might exploit their strength against the Egyptians.
From Pharaoh’s perspective, the potential threat posed by the Israelites was twofold. In the event of war, the Hebrews could ally with Egyptian adversaries, thereby leading to victory for their foes and defeat for the Egyptians. This threat was particularly acute from the restless eastern neighbors, the Arab tribes. Instead of serving as a defense against these enemies, the Hebrews, residing on the eastern boundary of the Egyptian realm, might find it more advantageous to assist them by allowing passage through their territory, thereby contributing to the Egyptians' downfall. Secondly, Pharaoh believed that the Hebrews might take advantage of the Egyptians' misfortunes in case of defeat, utilizing their status as outsiders to leave Egypt altogether. They viewed themselves as sojourners with aspirations of returning to the land of Canaan, the inheritance promised to them through God’s covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Joseph had reminded his brothers of this promise on his deathbed, instructing them to carry his bones back to that promised land.
Pharaoh’s fear was not that the Hebrews would seize control of Egypt but rather that they would desert the land if the Egyptians faced defeat. He would perhaps not have opposed their exodus if he had understood that they had settled in Egypt temporarily. However, Pharaoh was unwilling to part with the Hebrews, fearing he would lose a significant labor force, especially since their presence along the eastern frontier provided a line of defense against potential invasions. Thus, to eliminate the threat posed by their growing numbers and strength while maintaining dominion over them, Pharaoh resolved to implement harsh measures against the Hebrews' multiplication. Initially, he mandated rigorous labor to wear them down, later secretly instructed midwives to kill male infants, and ultimately issued a public decree to cast all of them into the river. The focus of the narrative at hand touches primarily on the first two measures.
The principal concern of the Egyptian ruler, who had recently expelled numerous foreigners, was to fortify his borders against potential incursions. The presence of Israel posed a significant threat as it was associated with the tribe termed ‘Aamu’ by the Egyptians, from the Semitic term meaning people. Various Aamu tribes inhabited northern Arabia, and known as Shazu—meaning nomadic—instilled fear among the Egyptians, as indicated by ancient monuments. The phrase indicates a longing to move ‘out of our land,’ from the fertile lowlands of Egypt to the rugged terrain of Arabia and the mountainous regions of Canaan. It is likely that Pharaoh and his advisors were aware of Israel's aspiration to claim the land promised to them. Alarmed by this people's rising strength, he was reluctant to lose the diligent laborers essential for his construction projects, as well as the skilled farmers and herdsmen who significantly contributed to his economy.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS