Exodus 1:12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Do not be astonished, dear ones: all of this was orchestrated by God; the Creator of all things removed the barriers in their path. His directive, ‘Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth’ (Gen. 1:28), bestowed upon Noah's sons the ability to increase in number. Likewise, the Israelites in Egypt, though they endured ‘their life of bitterness from the hard labour of working clay and bricks, and from every work of the field, from every work to which they were compelled with violence’ (Ex. 1:14), grew even more numerous. Neither the harsh and inhumane decree of Pharaoh, which commanded that male infants be cast into the river, nor the relentless oppression from their taskmasters could lessen their population.

However, an unexpected event unfolded that the tormentor did not foresee. It is stated that those subjected to moderate punishment became far more formidable to him, as they were "the most numerous," since God sought to turn even their bitterness to good. Understanding this, the tormentor devised additional schemes on top of his earlier efforts. Yet, this strategy backfired significantly with the Jews.

As Pharaoh sought to eliminate the Hebrew infants, the birth rate among them only rose. In his attempts to subjugate the Hebrews, he grew increasingly troubled by their growing numbers. Consequently, the Egyptians developed a deep-seated animosity towards the Hebrews.

The divine blessing of God on the people of Israel rendered futile the Egyptians’ attempts to curb their growth. Despite the severe oppression and heavy labor imposed upon them, the Israelites continued to flourish in both number and strength. Consequently, the Egyptians developed a deep-seated loathing for the descendants of Israel, driven by the realization that their efforts against the Hebrews had failed and a fear of the retribution they could unleash. This animosity grew to such an extent that the Egyptians came to utterly detest them.