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Shiphrah & Puah
The Hebrew Midwives
Understand, that although some very respectable Bible theologians would suggest that Shiphrah and Puah were Egyptian, and not Hebrew, now I'm going to trend lightly here. But I must admit, that I don't agree with them, when it comes to the notion, that Shiphrah and Puah were Egyptian. Now I can confidently make this statement, because if this was the case, when it came to Shiphrah and Puah being Egyptian, then the Scriptures would have clearly pointed this out.
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Exodus 1:15,16
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In the last couple of articles, I've been pointing out how, when it came to Israel entering into their new season of captivity and persecution how, this phase that was now taking shape from within Israel's history, was indeed, a blessing from God, and not a curse. For I hold true to the notion, that during this time, when it came to Israel's Egyptian captivity, I'd like to think that, their prolonged dilemma, had actually shielded them from unforeseen dangers. For these were dangers that were waiting for them outside of Egypt; dangers that could have come from more powerful civilizations, that were dwelling from within the land of Canaan at the time.
However that may have been, also from within the last article, we'd took a look at another so-called contradiction.
This contradiction dealt with the "400 year prophecy" that God had foretold to Abraham, right before his son Isaac was born.
I'd also had mentioned, how this particular prophecy, ties in with the "430 year prophecy" that God had foretold to Abraham some thirty years earlier.
Remember this was a prophecy that had been foretold, some thirty years earlier, from when Abraham had first entered into Canaan.
It's all about the timelines, when it comes to the Sacred Record.
And unfortunately, these little powerful details, like timelines, are often times, constantly overlooked, or even worse, simply ignored.
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New Level Of Persecution
Not Cursed
Nevertheless, we are now finally ready to move forward, with our journey. For we've now entered into what I'd like to call, a second persecution phase, that the Egyptians were now enacting against the Israelites. Understand, when it comes to this second persecution phase, know that it will be more intense than the first. And the reason why I believe that this is a new level of aggression, when it comes to the Egyptians, deals with the fact, the Egyptians were now targeting the Israelites babies, which were infants that were born unto them male:
"Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other was Puah, by saying: 'When you do the duties of a midwife for the Hebrew women, and when you see them on the birth stools -- if it's a son, then you shall kill him, but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.'" -- Exodus 1:15,16
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The Hebrew Midwives
Not Cursed
Now let's briefly take a look at what's going on here. For I'd like to think, that all of this should seem obvious and clear-cut to most. But surprisingly (for I also find it's very interesting) there still seem to be many different viewpoints amongst Bible scholars, when it comes to what this Scripture is actually saying. Now for one, I'm not going to delve deep into the differences, when it comes to these viewpoints. But I do think, there are some things that should be addressed, so we can better comprehend the changing environment, that's now taking place against the Israelites, during this time from within their history.
First let's take a look at these Hebrew midwives, who were named: Shiphrah and Puah. Understand, that although some very respectable Bible theologians would suggest that Shiphrah and Puah were Egyptian, and not Hebrew, now I'm going to trend lightly here. But I must admit, that I don't agree with them, when it comes to the notion, that Shiphrah and Puah were Egyptian. Now I can confidently make this statement, because if this was the case, when it came to Shiphrah and Puah being Egyptian, then the Scriptures would have clearly pointed this out.
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Small But Important Details
Understand, the mere fact, their names are more geared towards
being Hebrew, and not Egyptian (for the name Shiphrah means: fair. And
the name Puah means: splendid) and also, the mere fact that they are
specifically called the "Hebrew midwives" instead of the "Midwives of
the Hebrews" I'd like to think that it speaks volumes, on who they
really were, and the ethnic background they might have came from.
Besides,
it make sense, that the midwives would come from the same ethnic
background of the mothers and babies, that they were helping to bring
into the world. I mean after all, being that they would have a much
better understanding, when it came to the customs that the mother is
used to, and when it comes to what specific needs, that the baby (and
let us not forget the mother) might need. I mean honestly, this is just
something, that needs to be, seriously thought about.
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The Hebrew Midwives
Pharaoh's Royal Executioners?
Now let's briefly take a look at something else while we're here. For I want us to take a closer look at the decree, that Pharaoh had given to the midwives: "When you do the duties of a midwife for the Hebrew women, and see them on the birth-stools, if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live."
Understand, one of Pharaoh's main plans for the Israelites, dealt with him basically turning the Hebrew midwives, into his own royal executioners. Keep in mind that although Shiphrah and Puah, are the only two midwives that are specifically mentioned, don't make the mistake of thinking, that they were the only two midwives, who were helping to deliver the Israelites babies. For it would have been impossible for them to keep up, when it came to a nation that was growing as rapidly as the Israelites were.
And honestly, if one were to really think about this, it's a good chance that Shiphrah and Puah, were the "Head Hebrew Midwives" since they'd seemed, to have had direct access to Pharaoh. So if this was the case, then they would have received their orders directly from Pharaoh, and then they would have had instructed the other Hebrew midwives, on how they should go about doing things, which were in accordance to Pharaoh's orders.
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A Wasted Prophecy Opportunity?
Now there's also a viewpoint that's floating around, that seems to suggest, Pharaoh's magicians, and his wise men, had prophesied to him about the arrival of the baby Moses. And it's for this reason, he wanted all the male babies killed at childbirth. But personally I can't see this as being so. Especially with the foretelling of prophecies, and their fulfillment, being the Scriptures bread and butter.
I simply can't see a prophecy being wasted, by going unrecorded, especially, when it would deal with the arrival of Moses. And even though we are talking about Pharaoh's wise men and magicians, understand, God would used them too, to foretell the future, if He wanted to. Besides, God prides Himself off the foretelling, and the fulfillment of prophecies, it's one of the many things, that sets the Creator apart, when it comes to the many false gods, and the failed ideology, that surrounds His children:
"I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and will form springs from within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and cause the parched ground, to turn into springs. I will put in the desert, the cedar and the acacia tree, along with the myrtle and the olive tree. I will set pines in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together, that they may see and know, and consider and understand together, that the hand of the Lord has done this, and the Holy One of Israel has created it. 'Present your case,' says the Lord. 'Bring forth your strong reasons,' says the King of Jacob.
"Let them bring forth and show us what will happen. Let them show the former things, show what they were, that we may consider them, and know the latter end of them -- or let them declare to us, things to come. Let them show us the things, that are to come hereafter, that we may know that you are gods -- Yes! Do good, or do evil, so that we may be dismayed, and see it together. Indeed, I'll tell you this -- you are nothing, and your work is nothing. He who chooses you is an abomination." -- Isaiah 41:18-24
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Something Else To Be Considered
Nonetheless, I also want you to know, there are some things that are being overlooked, when it comes to this Sacred Account. When it comes to the projects that required very hard and heavy labor, projects that dealt with the supply, or treasure cities, that was known as: Pithom and Raamses. These were the cities that were built in honor of the Egyptians false gods. I just want to point out, that they were pretty much finished by this time.
So the Egyptians didn't really need the Hebrew men any more from this point forward. And so therefore, it would be during this time, the Egyptians were turning towards diluting, and eventually weeding out the Israelites, by killing off the future of their males, and eventually, start taking the Israelite women, to be their own. People seem to forget, this is what the Egyptians were known for, remember there was a time, Abraham had to deal with it, back during his days:
"And it came to pass, when Abraham was close to entering Egypt, that he said to Sarai his wife: 'Indeed I know that you are a woman of beautiful countenance. Therefore it will happen, when the Egyptians see you, that they will say: "This is his wife." And it will be at that time, they will kill me, but they will let you live. Please say you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that I may live, because of you.'" -- Genesis 12:11
In the next Bible Study Online Article:
In the next article, we'll find out if Shiphrah and Puah were cold-hearted enough, when it came to carry out this wicked decree, that went against their own people. We'll also learn about a heavy influence, that was operating from within their lives, during this time. And where was God, while all of this was going on against His chosen people? Did He abandoned them, as the Bible critics would seem to suggest?
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