The Bible, Douay-Rheims, Book 02: Exodus

THE BOOK OF EXODUS

The Second Book of Moses is called EXODUS, from the Greek word EXODOS,
which signifies going out: because it contains the history of the going
out of the children of Israel out of Egypt. The Hebrews, from the words
with which it begins, call it VEELLE SEMOTH: These are the names. It
contains transactions for 145 years; that is, from the death of Joseph
to the erecting of the tabernacle.

Exodus Chapter 1

The Israelites are multiplied in Egypt. They are oppressed by a new
king, who commandeth all their male children to be killed.

1:1. These are the names of the children of Israel, that went into Egypt
with Jacob: they went in every man with his household:

1:2. Ruben, Simeon, Levi, Juda,

1:3. Issachar, Zabulon, and Benjamin,

1:4. Dan, and Nephthali, Gad and Aser.

1:5. And all the souls that came out of Jacob's thigh, were seventy: but
Joseph was in Egypt.

1:6. After he was dead, and all his brethren, and all that generation,

1:7. The children of Israel increased, and sprung up into multitudes,
and growing exceedingly strong they filled the land.

1:8. In the mean time there arose a new king over Egypt, that knew not
Joseph:

1:9. And he said to his people: Behold the people of the children of
Israel are numerous and stronger than we.

1:10. Come let us wisely oppress them, lest they multiply: and if any
war shall rise against us, join with our enemies, and having overcome
us, depart out of the land.

1:11. Therefore he set over them masters of the works, to afflict them
with burdens: and they built for Pharao cities of tabernacles, Phithom,
and Ramesses.

Of tabernacles... Or, of storehouses.

1:12. But the more they oppressed them, the more they were multiplied
and increased.

1:13. And the Egyptians hated the children of Israel, and afflicted them
and mocked them:

1:14. And they made their life bitter with hard works in clay and brick,
and with all manner of service, wherewith they were overcharged in the
works of the earth.

1:15. And the king of Egypt spoke to the midwives of the Hebrews: of
whom one was called Sephora, the other Phua,

1:16. Commanding them: When you shall do the office of midwives to the
Hebrew women, and the time of delivery is come: if it be a man child,
kill it: if a woman, keep it alive.

1:17. But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt
had commanded, but saved the men children.

1:18: And the king called for them and said: What is it that you meant
to do, that you would save the men children?

1:19. They answered: The Hebrew women are not as the Egyptian women: for
they themselves are skilful in the office of a midwife; and they are
delivered before we come to them.

1:20. Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people
multiplied and grew exceedingly strong.

1:21. And because the midwives feared God, he built them houses.

Because the midwives feared God, etc... The midwives were rewarded, not
for their lie, which was a venial sin; but for their fear of God, and
their humanity: but this reward was only temporal, in building them
houses, that is, in establishing and enriching their families.

1:22. Pharao therefore charged all his people, saying: Whatsoever shall
be born of the male sex, ye shall cast into the river: whatsoever of the
female, ye shall save alive.