Why did the midwives fear God more than Pharaoh in Exodus 1:17? Historical Context: Slavery, Infanticide, And A Crisis Of Conscience Pharaoh’s edict to kill every Hebrew male child (Exodus 1:15-16) arose from political paranoia: “the Israelites are more numerous and stronger than we are” (1:9). Contemporary Egyptian texts such as the Brooklyn Papyrus (Brooklyn 35.1446) list Semitic household slaves in Egypt c. 1720 BC, matching the biblical claim of a growing Semitic population. Infanticide was not unknown in the ancient world; Middle Kingdom execration texts curse enemies with child slaughter, and the Instruction of Merikare laments “woes of the border Asiatics.” The decree thus reflects a verified Egyptian milieu. Identity Of Shiphrah And Puah The Hebrew consonants of Shiphrah (שִׁפְרָה, “fair” or “to make beautiful”) and Puah (פּוּעָה, “fragrant” or “sparkle”) match Northwest Semitic linguistic patterns, indicating they were Hebrews, though some scholars suggest Egyptian professionals serving Hebrew clients. Either way, Exodus calls them hameyaldot ha‘ivriyyot, “the Hebrew midwives,” linking their ethnic or vocational circle to the covenant community and Yahweh’s earlier promises to Abraham (Genesis 15:13-14). The Hebraic Concept Of “Fear Of God” The verb yārēʾ (יָרֵא) in Exodus 1:17 conveys reverent awe that yields obedience. In the Torah it describes Abraham (Genesis 22:12), Joseph’s brothers (Genesis 42:18), and the Sinai assembly (Exodus 20:20). “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 1:7). Thus fear is relational—anchored in covenant loyalty, not mere terror. Divine Authority Vs. Human Authority The midwives stood at an ethic-shaping crossroads later summed up by Peter: “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). Romans 13 mandates submission to rulers, yet always under God’s higher law (cf. Daniel 3, 6). The sanctity of life is grounded in humanity’s creation “in the image of God” (Genesis 1:27), a principle preceding all civil authority. Violation of that image through murder (Genesis 9:6) cannot be legitimized by any governmental decree. The midwives’ disobedience is therefore an early biblical case of righteous civil disobedience. Conscience And Universal Moral Knowledge Paul explains that Gentiles “show that the work of the law is written on their hearts” (Romans 2:15). Modern behavioral science affirms an innate moral compass: neonate studies (Hamlin, Yale Infant Lab, 2007) show preverbal preference for altruism over aggression. Such findings echo the midwives’ intuitive horror at child-murder. Theological Motivations: Covenant And Promise The Hebrews possessed ancestral narratives of miraculous preservation—Isaac spared (Genesis 22), Jacob delivered (Genesis 32), Joseph exalted (Genesis 50:20). The midwives, as community figures, would have heard these promises. Their fear of God fused covenant hope with immediate duty: if Yahweh promised multiplication (Genesis 17:6), killing male infants would directly oppose His oath. Obedience therefore safeguarded divine purpose. God’S Response: Reward For Reverent Courage “Because the midwives feared God, He gave them families of their own” (Exodus 1:21). This reward underscores the biblical principle that obedience brings blessing (Deuteronomy 28:1-2). In an honor-shame culture, childless midwives might occupy low status; Yahweh reverses that status, prefiguring later redemptive reversals (Luke 1:52). Archaeological And Manuscript Corroboration 1. Papyrus Westcar (Story of the Magicians) features royal birth predictions resisted by a jealous king, paralleling Pharaoh’s fear of a deliverer. 2. The Leiden Papyrus 348 lists slaves making bricks for building projects, echoing Exodus 1:14. 3. Dead Sea Scroll 4QExodus-Leviticus confirms the consonantal text of Exodus 1:17 identical to the Masoretic Vorlage, demonstrating textual stability over two millennia. Foreshadowing The Christ Event Moses, rescued from a homicidal decree, becomes a type of Christ. Herod’s slaughter of the innocents (Matthew 2:16-18) revisits Pharaoh’s policy; Joseph protects Jesus in Egypt, reversing the Exodus trajectory. The midwives’ fear of God thus participates in the lineage of events culminating in the incarnation and resurrection, the decisive demonstration that divine authority triumphs over tyrannical death. Practical Implications For Believers Today • Sanctity of life ministries draw precedent from the midwives’ stand against state-sponsored killing. • Healthcare professionals facing unethical directives can model Shiphrah and Puah’s moral courage. • Parents and church leaders should nurture a fear-of-God worldview in children, because formative stories shape future resistance to evil. Conclusion: Why They Feared God More Than Pharaoh Shiphrah and Puah understood that Yahweh’s authority is absolute, life is sacred, covenant promises are inviolable, and conscience demands obedience to God over man. Archaeological data affirms the historic plausibility; textual evidence secures the account; theological reflection reveals the episode as an early beacon of gospel-shaped courage. |
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