Exodus 1:18

18 The king of Egypt summoned the midwives and demanded of them, "Why have you done this and let the boys live?"

Exodus 1:18 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 1:18

And the king called for the midwives
Perceiving, by the increase of the Israelites, that they did not obey his commands:

and said unto them, why have ye done this thing, and have saved the
men children alive?
not only did not kill them, but did everything for them that was necessary for their future preservation and health; see ( Ezekiel 16:4 ) .

Exodus 1:18 In-Context

16 "When you attend the Hebrew women and see them giving birth," he said, "if it's a boy, kill him; but if it's a girl, let her live."

17 However, the midwives were God-fearing women, so they didn't do as the king of Egypt ordered but let the boys live.

18 The king of Egypt summoned the midwives and demanded of them, "Why have you done this and let the boys live?"

19 The midwives answered Pharaoh, "It's because the Hebrew women aren't like the Egyptian women -they go into labor and give birth before the midwife arrives."

20 Therefore God prospered the midwives, and the people continued to multiply and grow very powerful.