Exodus 1:18

18 So the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and said to them, "Why have you done this, and allowed the boys to 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 act as midwives to the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstool, if it is a boy, kill him; but if it is a girl, she shall live."

17 But the midwives feared God; they did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but they let the boys live.

18 So the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and said to them, "Why have you done this, and allowed the boys to live?"

19 The midwives said to Pharaoh, "Because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them."

20 So God dealt well with the midwives; and the people multiplied and became very strong.