Exodus 1:16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

He instructed the Hebrew midwives that during childbirth, they should determine the gender of the infants. If a male was born, they were to be killed, while the females were to be allowed to live. He regarded females as insignificant and lacking in strength, easily overcome by fear and naturally weak. Unclean spirits and Satan himself often attribute false glory and wealth to our distractions, focusing on earthly concerns—this mirrors Pharaoh's construction of cities for the Israelites, whom he forced to toil in clay and brick production. Satan detests those who exhibit courage and strive for virtuous qualities. He seeks to stifle those with the ability to resist, dragging them down into a swamp of worldly pleasures, while he easily subjugates those who are powerless.

When discussing the midwives' deception of Pharaoh, who was misled to spare the newborn Israelite boys under the pretext that Hebrew women are unlike Egyptian women in childbirth, a question arises about whether Divine judgment endorsed this falsehood. It is noted that God favored the midwives, yet it remains unclear whether this approval stems from mercy for their actions or if the act of deception itself was deemed commendable. There is a distinction to be made between their act of saving lives and their subsequent dishonesty. While preserving life is a true act of compassion, the lies they told were aimed at self-preservation, which can be seen as less admirable, albeit forgivable.

Pharaoh, concerned that the waters of his river would be tainted by the bodies of the infants cast into it, called upon the midwives and commanded them to commit acts of murder. By exerting his authority, he forced them to betray their true identity, transforming them from healers into executioners.

Ultimately, it is noted that other Jewish women give birth prior to the arrival of the midwives, signifying that the souls of the righteous do not depend on newly developed skills or knowledge for their nurture, nor do they seek assistance for their flourishing. Instead, they joyfully bring forth results that exceed all expectations.

Consequently, Pharaoh of Egypt is often viewed as a representation of the adversary, as he ordered the ruthless drowning of male infants while allowing female children to live. Similarly, the devil, who ruled from Adam to Moses over the great realm of Egypt—symbolizing the world—sought to drown the spiritual and rational essence of humanity in the floods of temptation, striving to eliminate the male and sentient generation of the soul. In contrast, he aimed to amplify and promote the carnal and irrational.

Following the initial harsh attempt to lessen the Hebrew population, Pharaoh implemented a more barbaric strategy: he instructed the Hebrew midwives to slay male infants upon birth. With only two midwives available, it is evident that such a limited number could not adequately assist the vast population of Hebrew women in labor. Consequently, it can be inferred that these two women held supervisory roles over others; they were among the most prominent and not intended to carry out the king's command personally. Instead, their responsibility was to relay the orders to their subordinates, oversee the enforcement of these orders, and provide answers to the king should the orders be ignored or improperly executed.

It is clear that the midwives were from Egypt (see v. 19). The phrase "observe in labour" is translated in the English, German, and French (Osterwald's) versions as "when you see them in the delivery chair" (refer to v. 19). The Scripture suggests that the directive given to the midwives to eliminate male infants likely did not apply to the entire population of Israel but was directed at the elite, who primarily relied on the assistance of these midwives. This decree may have served to reduce the influence and authority of their leaders while not significantly impacting the workforce that the Egyptians required.