Joseph and his Brethren
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Joseph. And he said unto his people, Behold the people of the children
of Israel are more and mightier than we. Come on, let us deal wisely
with them, lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there
falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against
us, and so get them up out of the land.”
This new king of Egypt, learned that the children of Israel were of
great service to the kingdom. Many of them were able and understand-
ing workmen, and he was not willing to lose their labor. This new king
ranked the children of Israel with that class of slaves who had sold
their flocks, their herds, their lands and themselves to the kingdom.
“Therefore they did set over them taskmasters, to afflict them with
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their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure-cities, Pithom and
Rameses. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied
and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.
And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigor. And
they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in mortar, and in brick,
and in all manner of service in the field. All their service wherein
they made them serve was with rigor.” They compelled their women
to work in the fields, as though they were slaves. Yet their numbers
did not decrease. As the king and his rulers saw that they continually
increased, they consulted together to compel them to accomplish a
certain amount every day. They thought to subdue them with hard
labor, and were angry because they could not decrease their numbers,
and crush out their independent spirit.
And because they failed to accomplish their purpose they hardened
their hearts to go still further. The king commanded that the male
children should be killed as soon as they were born. Satan was the
mover in these matters. He knew that a deliver was to be raised up
among the Hebrews to rescue them from oppression. He thought that
if he could move the king to destroy the male children, the purpose of
God would be defeated. The women feared God, and did not as the
king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive.
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The women dare not murder the Hebrew children, and because they
obeyed not the command of the king, the Lord prospered them. As the
king of Egypt was informed that his command had not been obeyed
he was very angry. He then made his command more urgent and
extensive. He charged all his people to keep a strict watch, saying,