以色列人受欺壓

以色列的眾子帶著家眷跟雅各[a]一起去了埃及,以下是他們的名字: 呂便、西緬、利未、猶大、 以薩迦、西布倫、便雅憫、 但、拿弗他利、迦得、亞設。 雅各的子孫總共有七十人。那時,約瑟已經住在埃及。 後來,約瑟和他的弟兄以及同輩的人都相繼去世。 以色列人生養眾多,人口大增,很快就遍佈埃及,成為一個強大的民族。 那時,埃及有一位不認識約瑟的新王登基, 對他的百姓說:「你們看,以色列人比我們多,又比我們強。 10 來吧!我們要設法阻止他們人口增長,否則一遇到戰爭,他們便會加入我們敵人的陣營來攻打我們,然後一走了之。」

11 於是,埃及人派監工強迫以色列人服勞役,在比東和蘭塞兩地為法老興建儲貨城。 12 以色列人越受奴役,人口增長得越快,散居的範圍也越廣,令埃及人感到恐懼。 13 於是,埃及人更殘酷地奴役他們, 14 強迫他們和泥造磚,並做田間一切的苦工,使他們痛苦不堪。 15 埃及王又命令兩個希伯來的接生婆施弗拉和普阿: 16 「你們在替希伯來婦女接生的時候,如果看到生下的是男嬰,就把他殺掉;如果是女嬰,就讓她活下來。」 17 但這兩個接生婆敬畏上帝,沒有執行王的命令,而是保留了男嬰的性命。 18 埃及王召見那兩個接生婆,質問她們:「你們為什麼這樣做?為什麼讓男嬰活著?」 19 她們回答說:「因為希伯來婦女跟埃及婦女不同。她們身體強健,我們還沒有趕到,嬰兒就生下來了。」 20-21 因此,以色列人口繼續增加,更加繁盛。因為這兩個接生婆敬畏上帝,上帝便賜福給她們,使她們生兒育女。 22 後來,法老命令全埃及的人把以色列人生的所有男嬰都拋進尼羅河裡,只讓女嬰活著。

Footnotes

  1. 1·1 雅各」就是「以色列」,上帝為雅各改名以色列,故事參考創世記32·28

以色列在埃及兴盛

以色列的众子,各人带着家眷和雅各一同来到埃及。他们的名字是: 流本、西缅、利未、犹大、 以萨迦、西布伦、便雅悯、 但、拿弗他利、迦得、亚设。 他们全是雅各所生的,共有七十人;那时约瑟已经在埃及了。 后来,约瑟和他所有的兄弟,以及那一代的人都死了。 以色列人生养繁衍众多,人数增加,极其强盛,遍满了那地。

新王迫害以色列人

那时,有一位不认识约瑟的新王兴起来,统治埃及。 他对自己的人民说:“看哪,以色列民比我们众多强盛。 10 来吧,我们要用巧计对付他们,恐怕他们增多起来,一旦发生战争,他们就与我们的仇敌联合,攻击我们,并且离开这地。” 11 于是,他们指派督工管辖他们,加重他们的重担苦害他们,他们为法老建造两座贮货城,就是比东和兰塞。 12 但是,埃及人越苦害他们,他们就越发增多,越发繁衍。埃及人就惧怕以色列人。 13 于是,埃及人严严地使以色列人作苦工。 14 埃及人使他们因作苦工而觉得命苦,他们要和泥、做砖、作田间各样的工;这一切苦工,埃及人都严严地驱使以色列人去作。

埃及王杀害希伯来男婴

15 埃及王吩咐两个希伯来接生妇,一个名叫施弗拉,一个名叫普阿, 16 说:“你们给希伯来妇人接生的时候,要看着她们临盆;若是男孩,你们要杀死他;若是女孩,她就可以活着。” 17 但是,接生妇却敬畏 神,不照着埃及王吩咐她们的去作,竟让男孩活着。 18 于是,埃及王把接生妇叫了来,对她们说:“你们为甚么作这事,让男孩活着呢?” 19 接生妇回答法老:“希伯来妇人与埃及妇人不同;她们很有活力,接生妇还没有来到,她们已经生产了。” 20  神恩待接生妇;以色列民增多起来,而且非常强盛。 21 接生妇因为敬畏 神, 神就为她们建立家室。 22 法老吩咐他的众民说:“凡是希伯来人(《马索拉文本》无“希伯来人”,现参照其他古抄本及古译本补上)所生的男孩,你们都要把他投在河里;凡是女孩,就让她活着。”

The Israelis Prosper in Egypt

These are the names of the Israelis[a] who entered Egypt with Jacob, each one having come with his family:[b] Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issacar, Zebulun, Benjamin, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. All those who descended from[c] Jacob totaled 75 persons.[d] Now Joseph was already[e] in Egypt. Then Joseph, all his brothers, and that entire generation died. But the Israelis were fruitful and increased abundantly.[f] They multiplied in numbers and became very, very strong. As a result, the land was filled with them.

The Israelis Become Slaves

Eventually a new king who was unacquainted with Joseph came to power in[g] Egypt. He told his people, “Look, the Israeli people are more numerous and more powerful than we are. 10 Come on, let’s be careful how we treat them, so that when they grow numerous, if a war breaks out they won’t join our enemies, fight against us, and leave our land.” 11 So the Egyptians[h] placed supervisors over them, oppressing them with heavy burdens. The Israelis[i] built the supply cities of Pithom and Rameses for Pharaoh. 12 But the more the Egyptians afflicted the Israelis,[j] the more they multiplied and flourished, so that the Egyptians[k] became terrified of[l] the Israelis. 13 The Egyptians ruthlessly forced the Israelis to serve them, 14 making their lives bitter through hard labor with mortar, bricks, and all kinds of outdoor labor. They ruthlessly imposed all this[m] work on them.

Pharaoh Orders Male Children Killed

15 Later, the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shiphrah and the other Puah. 16 “When you help the Hebrew women give birth,” he said, “watch them as they deliver.[n] If it’s a son, kill him; but if it’s a daughter, let her live.” 17 But the midwives feared God and didn’t do what the king of Egypt told them. Instead,[o] they let the boys live.

18 When the king of Egypt called for the midwives, he asked them, “Why have you done this[p] and allowed the boys to live?”

19 “Hebrew women aren’t like Egyptian women,” the midwives replied to Pharaoh. “They’re so healthy that they give birth before the midwives arrive to help[q] them.”

20 God was pleased with the midwives, and the people multiplied and became very strong. 21 Because the midwives feared God, he provided families[r] for them. 22 Meanwhile, Pharaoh continued commanding all of his people, “You’re to throw every Hebrew[s] son who is born into the Nile River,[t] but you’re to allow every Hebrew[u] daughter to live.”

Footnotes

  1. Exodus 1:1 Lit. the sons of Israel and so throughout the book
  2. Exodus 1:1 Or household
  3. Exodus 1:5 Lit. came out of the loins of
  4. Exodus 1:5 So with DSS and LXX. MT reads 70
  5. Exodus 1:5 The Heb. lacks already
  6. Exodus 1:7 Lit. swarmed
  7. Exodus 1:8 Lit. arose over
  8. Exodus 1:11 Lit. they
  9. Exodus 1:11 Lit. They
  10. Exodus 1:12 Lit. them
  11. Exodus 1:12 Lit. they
  12. Exodus 1:12 Or came to loathe
  13. Exodus 1:14 Lit. their
  14. Exodus 1:16 Lit. them on the birth stool
  15. Exodus 1:17 The Heb. lacks Instead
  16. Exodus 1:18 Lit. this thing
  17. Exodus 1:19 The Heb. lacks to help
  18. Exodus 1:21 Or households; lit. houses
  19. Exodus 1:22 The Heb. lacks Hebrew
  20. Exodus 1:22 The Heb. lacks River
  21. Exodus 1:22 The Heb. lacks Hebrew