Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Exodus 1:17
But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.
17. The midwives feared God; and would not be parties to such inhumanity.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 17. The midwives feared God] Because they knew that God had forbidden murder of every kind; for though the law was not yet given, Ex 20:13, being Hebrews they must have known that God had from the beginning declared, Whosoever sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed, Ge 9:6. Therefore they saved the male children of all to whose assistance they were called. See Clarke on Ex 1:19.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
1635
They feared God more than the king, and therefore chose to obey God rather than the king, their commands being contrary each to other.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
17. But the midwives fearedGodTheir faith inspired them with such courage as to risktheir lives, by disobeying the mandate of a cruel tyrant; but it wasblended with weakness, which made them shrink from speaking thetruth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
But the midwives feared God,…. And therefore durst not take away the life of an human creature, which was contrary to the express law of God, Ge 9:6:
and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them; knowing it was right to obey God rather than man, though ever so great, or in so exalted a station:
but saved the men children alive; did not use any violence with them, by stifling them in the birth. The scheme was so barbarous and shocking, especially to the tender sex, to whom it was proposed, and so devoid of humanity, that one would think it should never enter into the heart of man.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
But the midwives feared God ( ha-Elohim, the personal, true God), and did not execute the king’s command.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
17. But the midwives feared God. Moses does not mean that they were then first affected with the fear of God; but he assigns this reason why they did not obey his unjust command, viz., because reverence towards God had greater influence with them. And certainly, as all our affections are best directed by this rein, so also it is the surest shield for resisting all temptations, and a firm support to uphold our minds from wavering in seasons of danger. Now, they not only dreaded this crime as being cruel and inhuman; but because purer religion and piety flourished in their hearts; for they knew that the seed of Abraham was chosen of God, and had themselves experienced that it was blessed; and hence it was natural to feel, that it would be an act of very gross impiety to extinguish in it the grace of God. We must also observe the antithesis between the fear of God and the dread of punishment, which might have deterred them from doing right. Although tyrants do not easily allow their commands to be despised, and death was before their eyes, they still keep their hands pure from evil. Thus, sustained and supported by reverential fear of God, they boldly despised the command and the threatenings of Pharaoh. Wherefore those, whom the fear of men withdraws from the right course, betray by their cowardice an inexcusable contempt of God, in preferring the favor of men to his solemn commands. But this doctrine extends still more widely; for many would be (19) more than preposterously wise, whilst, under pretext of due submission, they obey the wicked will of kings in opposition to justice and right, being in some cases the ministers of avarice and rapacity, in others of cruelty; yea, to gratify the transitory kings of earth, they take no account of God; and thus, which is worst of all, they designedly oppose pure religion with fire and sword. It only makes their effrontery more detestable, that whilst they knowingly and willingly crucify Christ in his members, they plead the frivolous excuse, that they obey their princes according to the word of God; as if he, in ordaining princes, had resigned his rights to them; and as if every earthly power, which exalts itself against heaven, ought not rather most justly to be made to give way. But since they only seek to escape the reprobation of men for their criminal obedience, let them not be argued with by long discussions, but rather referred to the judgment of women; for the example of these midwives is abundantly sufficient for their condemnation; especially when the Holy Spirit himself commends them, as not having obeyed the king, because they feared God.
(19) This somewhat harsh expression is thus translated in Fr. ver., “veulent estre sages en despit de nature;” would be wise in spite of nature.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
(17) The midwives feared God.The midwives, whether Hebrews or Egyptians, believed in a God who would punish wrong-doing, and therefore resolved not to obey the Pharaoh.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
17-19. But the midwives feared Feared the (one only) God rather than Pharaoh, and would not execute his murderous mandate . Their excuse was plausible, for childbirth is usually easy with women of the pastoral class, especially in the East . Burckhardt and Tischendorf relate that the Bedouin mother seeks a spot by a spring or stream, and bears and dresses her infant without aid . She even sometimes alights from her camel to bear her child, which she washes in the sand and then resumes her place .
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Exo 1:17 But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.
Ver. 17. And did not as the king, &c. ] Wherein they did no more, though out of a better principle, than nature itself dictateth. Antigona saith thus in Sophocles, Magis obtemperandum est Diis apud quos diutius manendum erit, quam hominibus quibuscum admodum brevi tempore vivendum est. See Trapp on “ Act 4:19 “ “We must rather obey God than men.”
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
God. Hebrew. Eth ha-‘Elohim, very emphatic for the true or triune God.
as = according as.
saved = suffered. . . . to live.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
feared
(See Scofield “Psa 19:9”).
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
feared God: Gen 20:11, Gen 42:18, Neh 5:15, Psa 31:19, Pro 8:13, Pro 16:6, Pro 24:11, Pro 24:12, Ecc 8:12, Ecc 12:13, Dan 3:16-18, Dan 6:13, Hos 5:11, Mic 6:16, Mat 10:28, Luk 12:5, Act 4:19, Act 5:29
Reciprocal: Lev 25:43 – but shalt 1Sa 19:17 – He said 1Sa 22:17 – would not 2Sa 13:28 – commanded 2Sa 24:4 – went out 1Ki 21:11 – did as Jezebel 1Ch 21:4 – Wherefore Est 3:3 – Why Pro 31:30 – a woman Ecc 8:5 – keepeth Mal 3:5 – fear Mat 2:12 – they departed