Exodus 1:9

9 Die zeide tot zijn volk: Ziet, het volk der kinderen Israels is veel, ja, machtiger dan wij.

Exodus 1:9 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 1:9

And he said unto his people
His princes, nobles, and courtiers about him, his principal ministers of state:

behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than
we:
which could not be true in fact, but is said to stir up his nobles to attend to what he was about to say, and to work upon them to take some speedy measures for the crushing of this people; for that they were more in number, and mightier in power and wealth than the Egyptians, it was impossible; and indeed it may seem strange, that the king should tell such an untruth, which might be so easily contradicted by his courtiers; though the words will bear to be otherwise rendered, as that "the children of Israel are many" ^F15; as they were very greatly multiplied, and became very numerous; and they might be "mightier", that is, more robust and strong, and fitter for war than the Egyptians, and therefore, were formidable, and a people to be guarded against; and it was high time to think of securing themselves from them, before they grew too mighty and powerful; or they might be more numerous and mighty in that part of the land in which they were, in Goshen, though not more and mightier than the Egyptians in general.

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FOOTNOTES:

F15 (br) "multus", Pagninus, Montanus, Drusius, Rivet.

Exodus 1:9 In-Context

7 Zo werden de kinderen Israels vruchtbaar en wiesen overvloedig, en zij vermeerderden, en werden gans zeer machtig, zodat het land met hen vervuld werd.

8 Daarna stond een nieuwe koning op over Egypte, die Jozef niet gekend had;

9 Die zeide tot zijn volk: Ziet, het volk der kinderen Israels is veel, ja, machtiger dan wij.

10 Komt aan, laat ons wijselijk tegen hetzelve handelen, opdat het niet vermenigvuldige, en het geschiede, als er enige krijg voorvalt, dat het zich ook niet vervoege tot onze vijanden, en tegen ons strijde, en uit het land optrekke.

11 En zij zetten oversten der schattingen over hetzelve, om het te verdrukken met hun lasten; want men bouwde voor Farao schatsteden, Pitom en Raamses.