Exodus Section 2: Oppression - vocab

Vocabulary for Exodus 1: 8-22

Verse 8: “did not know” might also mean “did not care about” (the same Hebrew verb is translated “took notice” in 2:25).

Verse 15: “Hebrew midwives” – could mean “Hebrew midwives” (i.e. Israelite women) or “midwives to the Hebrew women” (i.e. Egyptian women serving the Israelites).

Verse 16: “birthstool” (or stone) – The brick or stone supports used during childbirth.   In ancient Israel, ethnicity was patrilineal, so that eliminating the males suffices to wipe out the people.