Exodus 1:1-10

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

1 These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his household:^{(A) 2} Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, ³ Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, ⁴ Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. ⁵ The total number of people born to Jacob was seventy. (Joseph was already in Egypt.)^{(B) 6} Then Joseph died, and all his brothers, and that whole generation.^{(C) 7} But the Israelites were fruitful and prolific; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them.^(D)

The Israelites Are Oppressed

⁸ Now a new king arose over Egypt who did not know Joseph.^{(E) 9} He said to his people, “Look, the Israelite people are more numerous and more powerful than we.^{(F) 10} Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase and, in the event of war, join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.”