Wesley Corpus

God's kindness to Israel, in multiplying them exceedingly, ver. 1 - 7. The Egyptians wickedness to them; Oppressing and enslaving them, ver. 8 - 14. Murdering their children, ver. 15 - 22. Chapter I Every man of his household - That is, children and grand - children. And Benjamin - Who tho' youngest of all is placed before Dan, Naphtali, &c. because they were the children of the hand - maidens. Seventy souls - According to the computation we had, Gen 46:27, including Joseph and his two sons. This was just the number of the nations by which the earth was peopled, Gen 10:1 - 32, for when God separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel, De 32:8. All that generation by degrees wore off: perhaps all Jacob's sons died much about the same time, for there was not past seven years difference in age between the eldest and the youngest of them, except Benjamin. And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly - Like fishes or insects, so that they multiplied; and being generally healthful and strong, they waxed exceeding mighty, so that the land was filled with them, at least Goshen, their own allotment. This wonderful increase was the product of the promise long before made to the fathers. From the call of Abraham, when God first told him he would make him a great nation, to the deliverance of his seed out of Egypt, was 430 years; during the first 215 of which, they were increased to 70, but in the latter half, those 70 multiplied to 600,000 fighting men. There arose a new king (after several successions in Joseph's time) which knew not Joseph - All that knew him loved him, and were kind to his relations for his sake; but when he was dead he was soon forgotten, and the remembrance of the good offices he had done was either not retained or not regarded. If we work for men only, our works at farthest will die with us; if for God, they will follow us, Rev 14:13. Come on, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply - When men deal wickedly it is common for them to imagine that they deal wisely, but the folly of sin will at last be manifested before all men.