Exodus 1
Commentary from 10 fathers
These are the names of the sons of Israel that came into Egypt together with Jacob their father; they came in each with their whole family.
ΤΑΥΤΑ τὰ ὀνόματα τῶν υἱῶν ᾿Ισραὴλ τῶν εἰσπεπορευμένων εἰς Αἴγυπτον ἅμα ᾿Ιακὼβ τῷ πατρὶ αὐτῶν, ἕκαστος πανοικὶ αὐτῶν εἰσήλθοσαν.
Сїѧ̑ и҆мена̀ сынѡ́въ і҆и҃левыхъ, входѧ́щихъ во є҆гѵ́петъ вкꙋ́пѣ со і҆а́кѡвомъ ѻ҆тце́мъ и҆́хъ, кі́йждо со всѣ́мъ до́момъ свои́мъ внидо́ша:
Issachar, Zabulon, Benjamin,
᾿Ισσάχαρ, Ζαβουλὼν καὶ Βενιαμίν,
і҆ссаха́ръ, завꙋлѡ́нъ и҆ венїамі́нъ,
Dan and Nephthalim, Gad and Aser.
Δὰν καὶ Νεφαθλείμ, Γὰδ καὶ ᾿Ασήρ.
да́нъ и҆ нефѳалі́мъ, га́дъ и҆ а҆си́ръ: і҆ѡ́сифъ же бѧ́ше во є҆гѵ́птѣ.
And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation.
ἐτελεύτησε δὲ ᾿Ιωσὴφ καὶ πάντες οἱ ἀδελφοὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ πᾶσα ἡ γενεὰ ἐκείνη.
Оу҆́мре же і҆ѡ́сифъ, и҆ всѧ̑ бра́тїѧ є҆гѡ̀, и҆ ве́сь ро́дъ ѻ҆́ный:
And the children of Israel increased and multiplied, and became numerous and grew exceedingly strong, and the land multiplied them.
οἱ δὲ υἱοὶ ᾿Ισραὴλ ηὐξήθησαν καὶ ἐπληθύνθησαν καὶ χυδαῖοι ἐγένοντο. καὶ κατίσχυον σφόδρα σφόδρα, ἐπλήθυνε δὲ ἡ γῆ αὐτούς.
сы́нове же і҆и҃лєвы возрасто́ша и҆ ᲂу҆мно́жишасѧ, и҆ мно́зи бы́ша и҆ ᲂу҆крѣпи́шасѧ ѕѣлѡ̀ ѕѣлѡ̀: ᲂу҆мно́жи же и҆̀хъ землѧ̀.
We have heard in the lesson which was read, dearly beloved, that “when Joseph was dead, the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful and prolific, and they sprang up like grass.” What does this mean, brethren? As long as Joseph lived the children of Israel are not recorded to have increased or multiplied very much, but after he died they are said to have sprung up like the grass. Surely they should have increased and multiplied more when they were under the patronage and protection of Joseph. These words were prefigured in that Joseph, dearly beloved; but in our Joseph, that is, in Christ the Lord, they were fulfilled in truth. Before our Joseph died, that is, before he was crucified, few people believed in him, but after he died and rose again throughout the world the Israelites, that is, the Christian people, increased and multiplied. Thus even the Lord himself says in the Gospel: “Unless the grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it brings forth much fruit.” After the precious grain of wheat died and was buried through the passion, from that one grain a harvest of the church sprang up throughout the world. Not as formerly was “God renowned in Judah” alone, nor is “his great name” worshiped only “in Israel”; but “from the rising of the sun unto the going down” his name is praised.
Sermon 94.1
And there arose up another king over Egypt, who knew not Joseph.
᾿Ανέστη δὲ βασιλεὺς ἕτερος ἐπ᾿ Αἴγυπτον, ὃς οὐκ ᾔδει τὸν ᾿Ιωσήφ.
Воста́ же ца́рь и҆́нъ во є҆гѵ́птѣ, и҆́же не зна́ше і҆ѡ́сифа,
And he said to his nation, Behold, the race of the children of Israel is a great multitude, and is stronger than we:
εἶπε δὲ τῷ ἔθνει αὐτοῦ· ἰδοὺ τὸ γένος τῶν υἱῶν ᾿Ισραὴλ μέγα πλῆθος καὶ ἰσχύει ὑπὲρ ἡμᾶς·
рече́ же ꙗ҆зы́кꙋ своемꙋ̀: сѐ, ро́дъ сынѡ́въ і҆и҃левыхъ вели́кое мно́жество и҆ ᲂу҆крѣплѧ́етсѧ па́че на́съ:
come then, let us deal craftily with them, lest at any time they be increased, and whensoever war shall happen to us, these also shall be added to our enemies, and having prevailed against us in war, they will depart out of the land.
δεῦτε οὖν κατασοφισώμεθα αὐτούς, μή ποτε πληθυνθῇ, καὶ ἡνίκα ἂν συμβῇ ἡμῖν πόλεμος, προστεθήσονται καὶ οὗτοι πρὸς τοὺς ὑπεναντίους καὶ ἐκπολεμήσαντες ἡμᾶς ἐξελεύσονται ἐκ τῆς γῆς.
прїиди́те ᲂу҆̀бо, прехи́тримъ и҆̀хъ, да не когда̀ ᲂу҆мно́жатсѧ: и҆ є҆гда̀ а҆́ще приключи́тсѧ на́мъ бра́нь, приложа́тсѧ и҆ сі́и къ сꙋпоста́тѡмъ, и҆ ѡ҆долѣ́вше на́мъ и҆зы́дꙋтъ и҆з̾ землѝ (на́шеѧ).
And he set over them task-masters, who should afflict them in their works; and they built strong cities for Pharao, both Pitho, and Ramesses, and On, which is Heliopolis.
καὶ ἐπέστησεν αὐτοῖς ἐπιστάτας τῶν ἔργων, ἵνα κακώσωσιν αὐτοὺς ἐν τοῖς ἔργοις· καὶ ᾠκοδόμησαν πόλεις ὀχυρὰς τῷ Φαραώ, τήν τε Πειθὼ καὶ Ῥαμεσσῆ καὶ ῎Ων, ἥ ἐστιν ῾Ηλιούπολις.
И҆ приста́ви над̾ ни́ми приста́вники дѣ́лъ, да ѡ҆ѕло́бѧтъ и҆̀хъ въ дѣ́лѣхъ. И҆ созда́ша гра́ды твє́рды фараѡ́нꙋ: пїѳѡ̀, и҆ рамессѝ, и҆ ѡ҆́нъ, и҆́же є҆́сть и҆лїопо́ль.
But as they humbled them, by so much they multiplied, and grew exceedingly strong; and the Egyptians greatly abhorred the children of Israel.
καθότι δὲ αὐτοὺς ἐταπείνουν, τοσούτῳ πλείους ἐγίγνοντο, καὶ ἴσχυον σφόδρα σφόδρα· καὶ ἐβδελύσσοντο οἱ Αἰγύπτιοι ἀπὸ τῶν υἱῶν ᾿Ισραήλ.
По є҆ли́кꙋ же и҆̀хъ смирѧ́хꙋ, толи́кѡ мно́жайшїи быва́хꙋ и҆ ᲂу҆крѣплѧ́хꙋсѧ ѕѣлѡ̀ ѕѣлѡ̀. И҆ гнꙋша́хꙋсѧ є҆гѵ́птѧне сынмѝ і҆и҃левыми,
And the Egyptians tyrannised over the children of Israel by force.
καὶ κατεδυνάστευον οἱ Αἰγύπτιοι τοὺς υἱοὺς ᾿Ισραὴλ βίᾳ
и҆ наси́лїе творѧ́хꙋ є҆гѵ́птѧне сынѡ́мъ і҆и҃лєвымъ нꙋ́ждею,
And they embittered their life by hard labours, in the clay and in brick-making, and all the works in the plains, according to all the works, wherein they caused them to serve with violence.
καὶ κατωδύνων αὐτῶν τὴν ζωὴν ἐν τοῖς ἔργοις τοῖς σκληροῖς, τῷ πηλῷ καὶ τῇ πλινθείᾳ καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς ἔργοις τοῖς ἐν τοῖς πεδίοις, κατὰ πάντα τὰ ἔργα, ὧν κατεδουλοῦντο αὐτοὺς μετὰ βίας.
и҆ болѣ́зненнꙋ тѣ̑мъ жи́знь творѧ́хꙋ въ дѣ́лѣхъ же́стокихъ бре́нїемъ и҆ плїнѳодѣ́ланїемъ, и҆ всѣ́ми дѣ́лы, ꙗ҆̀же въ полѧ́хъ, во всѣ́хъ дѣ́лѣхъ, и҆́миже порабоща́хꙋ и҆̀хъ съ нꙋ́ждею.
Perhaps it is in this sense that God is said to have hardened the heart of Pharaoh, because the substance of his heart was obviously such as to elicit from the Sun of justice not his illumination but his power to harden and to scorch. That no doubt was the reason why this same Pharaoh afflicted the life of the Hebrews with hard work and wore them out with clay and bricks. And certainly the works that he devised came from a heart as miry and muddy! And as the visible sun contracts and hardens the substance of clay, so with the same rays by which he enlightened the people of Israel and by means of those rays’ same properties the Sun of justice hardened the heart of Pharaoh that harbored muddy devices.
Commentary on the Song of Songs 2.2
When the children of Israel were in Egypt, they were afflicted with mortar and brick for the works of Pharaoh the king until they cried out in their groaning to the Lord. And he heard their cry and sent his word to them by Moses and led them out of Egypt. When we were also in Egypt, I mean in the errors of this world and in the darkness of ignorance, we then did the works of the devil in lusts and desires of the flesh. But the Lord had pity on our affliction and sent the Word, his only begotten Son, to deliver us from ignorance of our error and to lead us to the light of divine law.
Homilies on Numbers 27.2
I have already lived through many paschs, which was the fruit of a long life. But now I desire a purer pasch: to depart from this Egypt, the heavy and dark Egypt of this life, and to be freed from the clay and bricks that held us in bondage and to pass over to the land of promise.
Letter 120
We have been led out of Egypt where we were serving the devil as a pharaoh, where we were doing works of clay amid earthly desires, and we were laboring much in them. For Christ cried out to us, as if we were making bricks, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened.” Led out of here, we were led over through baptism as through the Red Sea—red for this reason, because consecrated by the blood of Christ—when all our enemies who were assailing us were dead, that is, when our sins have been wiped out.
Tractate on the Gospel of John 28.9
And the king of the Egyptians spoke to the midwives of the Hebrews; the name of the one was, Sepphora; and the name of the second, Phua.
Καὶ εἶπεν ὁ βασιλεὺς τῶν Αἰγυπτίων ταῖς μαίαις τῶν ῾Εβραίων· τῇ μιᾷ αὐτῶν ὄνομα Σεπφώρα, καὶ τὸ ὄνομα τῆς δευτέρας Φουά,
И҆ речѐ ца́рь є҆гѵ́петскїй ба́бамъ є҆врє́йскимъ: є҆ди́нѣй и҆́хъ и҆́мѧ сепфѡ́ра и҆ и҆́мѧ вторѣ́й фꙋ́а,
And he said, When ye do the office of midwives to the Hebrew women, and they are about to be delivered, if it be a male, kill it; but if a female, save it.
καὶ εἶπεν· ὅταν μαιοῦσθε τὰς ῾Εβραίας καὶ ὦσι πρὸς τῷ τίκτειν, ἐὰν μὲν ἄρσεν ᾖ, ἀποκτείνατε αὐτό, ἐὰν δὲ θῆλυ, περιποιεῖσθε αὐτό.
и҆ речѐ (и҆̀мъ): є҆гда̀ ба́бите є҆вре́анынѧмъ, и҆ сꙋ́ть къ рожде́нїю, а҆́ще ᲂу҆́бѡ мꙋ́жескїй по́лъ бꙋ́детъ, ᲂу҆бива́йте є҆го̀: а҆́ще же же́нскїй, снабдѣва́йте є҆го̀.
Thus too it has been said that the Pharaoh of Egypt was a type of the devil, in that he cruelly ordered the males to be cast into the Nile and permitted the females to live. So too the devil, ruling over the great Egypt of the world "from Adam unto Moses," made an effort to carry off and destroy the male and rational offspring of the soul in the flood of the passions, while he takes delight in seeing the carnal and sensual offspring increase and multiply.
Banquet of the Ten Virgins 4.2
But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt appointed them; and they saved the male children alive.
ἐφοβήθησαν δὲ αἱ μαῖαι τὸν Θεὸν καὶ οὐκ ἐποίησαν καθότι συνέταξεν αὐταῖς ὁ βασιλεὺς Αἰγύπτου, καὶ ἐζωογόνουν τὰ ἄρσενα.
Оу҆боѧ́шасѧ же ба̑бы бг҃а, и҆ не сотвори́ша, ꙗ҆́коже повелѣ̀ и҆̀мъ ца́рь є҆гѵ́петскїй, и҆ живлѧ́хꙋ мꙋ́жескїй по́лъ.
17–19On the midwives' lie, by which they deceived Pharaoh and kept him from killing the Israelite males when they were born: The midwives said that Hebrew women did not give birth as Egyptian women did. It is usual to ask whether such lies have been approved by divine authority. Scripture says that God favored the midwives. It is unclear whether God, in his mercy, pardoned the lie or judged that the lie itself deserved a reward. For the midwives did one thing by letting the infant boys live and another by lying to Pharaoh. In letting them live they performed a work of mercy; but they used that lie for their own ends, to keep Pharaoh from harming the infants. This act could be the occasion not for praise but for pardon. It does not seem to me that the authority to lie has been given to those of whom it is said, "And a lie has not been found in their mouths." For if the lives of certain people, being far below the level of the saints' lives, include these sins of lying, these people are living in accord with their natural abilities, especially if they do not yet know that they should expect heavenly gifts but busy themselves with earthly things. As for those who live in such a way that their conversation, as the apostle says, is in heaven, I do not think that they should regulate the style of their speech, insofar as it affects speaking the truth and avoiding falsehood, on the example of the midwives. But we should consider this question more carefully, on account of the other examples that are found in Scripture.
Questions on Exodus 1
17–19Many lies indeed seem to be for someone's safety or advantage, spoken not in malice but in kindness: such was that of those midwives in Exodus, who gave a false report to Pharaoh, to the end that the infants of the children of Israel might not be slain. But even these are praised not for the fact but for the disposition shown; since those who only lie in this way will attain in time to a freedom from all lying.
Explanation of the Psalms 5.7
And the king of Egypt called the midwives, and said to them, Why is it that ye have done this thing, and saved the male children alive?
ἐκάλεσε δὲ ὁ βασιλεὺς Αἰγύπτου τὰς μαίας καὶ εἶπεν αὐταῖς· τί ὅτι ἐποιήσατε τὸ πρᾶγμα τοῦτο καὶ ἐζωογονεῖτε τὰ ἄρσενα;
Призва́ же ца́рь є҆гѵ́петскїй ба̑бы и҆ речѐ и҆̀мъ: что̀ ꙗ҆́кѡ сотвори́сте ве́щь сїю̀, и҆ ѡ҆живлѧ́ете мꙋ́жескїй по́лъ;
And the midwives said to Pharao, The Hebrew women are not as the women of Egypt, for they are delivered before the midwives go in to them. So they bore children.
εἶπαν δὲ αἱ μαῖαι τῷ Φαραώ· οὐχ ὡς γυναῖκες Αἰγύπτου αἱ ῾Εβραῖαι, τίκτουσι γὰρ πρὶν ἢ εἰσελθεῖν πρὸς αὐτὰς τὰς μαίας· καὶ ἔτικτον.
Реко́ша же ба̑бы фараѡ́нꙋ: не ꙗ҆́кѡ жєны̀ є҆гѵ̑птѧныни, та́кѡ и҆ жєны̀ є҆врє́аныни: ражда́ютъ бо пре́жде не́же вни́ти къ ни̑мъ ба́бамъ, и҆ ражда́хꙋ.
Indeed, in regard to other Hebrew women you find it written that the Hebrew women give birth before the midwives arrive. This is so because the souls of the just do not wait upon branches of learning arranged according to kinds of knowledge, nor do they require assistance in parturition, but they bring forth their offspring spontaneously and anticipate the expected time.
Flight from the World 8.47
And God did well to the midwives, and the people multiplied, and grew very strong.
εὖ δὲ ἐποίει ὁ Θεὸς τὰς μαίας, καὶ ἐπλήθυνεν ὁ λαὸς καὶ ἴσχυε σφόδρα.
Бла́го же творѧ́ше бг҃ъ ба́бамъ, и҆ мно́жахꙋсѧ лю́дїе и҆ ᲂу҆крѣплѧ́хꙋсѧ ѕѣлѡ̀.
And as the midwives feared God, they established for themselves families.
ἐπεὶ δὲ ἐφοβοῦντο αἱ μαῖαι τὸν Θεόν, ἐποίησαν ἑαυταῖς οἰκίας.
И҆ поне́же боѧ́хꙋсѧ ба̑бы бг҃а, сотвори́ша себѣ̀ жили̑ща.
21–22Just as Pharaoh was drowned in those very waters in which he had drowned the infants, so too David removed Goliath’s head with that very sword with which he had destroyed many. Moses divided the waters through the symbol of the cross, while David laid Goliath low through the symbol of the stone. Our Lord condemned Satan by the word of his mouth when the latter was tempting him. Pharaoh was drowned by the waters with which he had drowned [others].
Commentary on Tatian’s Diatessaron 12
21–22And that you may learn this—Pharaoh commanded the infants to be cast into the river. Unless the infants had been cast forth, Moses would not have been saved, he would not have been brought up in the palace. When he was safe, he was not in honor; when he was exposed, then he was in honor. But God did this to show his riches of resource and contrivance.
Homilies on Acts 54, at Acts 20:17
21–22Because they feared God, they built up houses. Without the fear of God, a house cannot be built. If then with the fear of God houses were built by those who had not committed sin but rather did their building at God’s pleasure, we who have been captured, what must we do? Listen, sinner; we must fear God, indeed, to avoid sin; but after shipwreck there is the second plank of repentance. “When the house was being built after captivity.” “When the house was being built,” not “was built,” for repentance is without limit. To the just man who has died, repentance naturally is rendered superfluous. Whenever there is sin, always there is remorse of conscience. Hence the psalmist says was “being built.” While time lasts, the door is always open to repentance, for however long you shall live, as long as you live, you will fall into sin.
Homily 72
As for its being written that God dealt well with the Hebrew midwives and with Rahab the harlot of Jericho, he did not deal well with them because they lied but because they were merciful to the men of God. And so it was not their deception that was rewarded but their benevolence; the benignity of their intention, not the iniquity of their invention.
On Lying 15.32
And Pharao charged all his people, saying, Whatever male [child] shall be born to the Hebrews, cast into the river; and every female, save it alive.
συνέταξε δὲ Φαραὼ παντὶ τῷ λαῷ αὐτοῦ λέγων· πᾶν ἄρσεν, ὃ ἐὰν τεχθῇ τοῖς ῾Εβραίοις, εἰς τὸν ποταμὸν ῥίψατε· καὶ πᾶν θῆλυ, ζωογονεῖτε αὐτό.
Заповѣ́да же фараѡ́нъ всѣ̑мъ лю́демъ свои̑мъ, глаго́лѧ: всѧ́къ мꙋ́жескїй по́лъ, и҆́же роди́тсѧ є҆вре́ѡмъ, въ рѣкꙋ̀ вверга́йте, и҆ всѧ́къ же́нскїй по́лъ снабдѣва́йте и҆̀ жи́въ.
But Joseph was in Egypt. And all the souls [born] of Jacob were seventy-five.
᾿Ιωσὴφ δὲ ἦν ἐν Αἰγύπτῳ. ἦσαν δὲ πᾶσαι ψυχαὶ ἐξ ᾿Ιακὼβ πέντε καὶ ἑβδομήκοντα.
Бѧ́ше же всѣ́хъ дꙋ́шъ и҆зше́дшихъ и҆з̾ і҆а́кѡва се́дмьдесѧтъ пѧ́ть.