1. The secret plot is foiled by the midwives

In the earlier part of the chapter, the midwives had themselves secretly plotted to prevent the deaths of the firstborn male babies. Pharaoh had sought to reduce the Hebrew males’ population so that it didn’t look like he had ordered it. It was underhand and it was perhaps fitting that the midwives had also been underhand in undermining it.

2. Pharaoh doubles down

It is now out in the public domain. Pharaoh commands all his people (not just the Hebrew midwives) to kill all Hebrew baby boys by throwing them into the Nile River. Pharaoh allows the Hebrew girls to live as he (wrongly) sees them as no threat.

We are not sure how many were killed. The population was high according to Exodus and it may have continued for years before the Exodus happened. It could easily be thousands of them thrown into the Nile by the Egyptians. It is unlikely any Hebrew mother would do it themselves.

Aaron and Miriam were born before Moses so they would not have come under this edict and were already young children. Herod would later kill Jewish male infants on a far smaller scale to remove the threat of another King. He commanded the death of all male children two years and younger in the city (Matthew 2:16–18).

3. Herod’s infanticide (Matthew 2:16-18)

King Herod will perform a similar act to Pharaoh. It will be on a lesser scale to Pharaoh, but every human life is precious in the sight of God.

Herod sought to kill the baby Jesus to remove any threat of another king. He commanded the death of all male children two years and younger in the city of Bethlehem.

Pharaoh and Herod were both tyrants who had no moral qualms about killing even babies to ensure their reign was protected.

Categories: Exodus

Tags: bible, Exodus, god, moses, pharaoh