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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>Exodus 1:10 Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase even more; and if a war breaks out, they may join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country."</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/exodus/1-10.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/15/02_Exo_01_10.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="Exodus 1:10 - Oppression by a New King" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase even more; and if a war breaks out, they may join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script> <script src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/biblehub.js' type='text/javascript'></script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/exodus/1-10.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/exodus/1-10.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/exodus/">Exodus</a> > <a href="/exodus/1.htm">Chapter 1</a> > Verse 10</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/exodus/1-9.htm" title="Exodus 1:9">◄</a> Exodus 1:10 <a href="/exodus/1-11.htm" title="Exodus 1:11">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Study Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Crossref </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Hebrew </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/exodus/1.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/exodus/1.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/exodus/1.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />We must make a plan to keep them from growing even more. If we don’t, and if war breaks out, they will join our enemies and fight against us. Then they will escape from the country.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/exodus/1.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/exodus/1.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase even more; and if a war breaks out, they may join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/exodus/1.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />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 <i>so</i> get them up out of the land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/exodus/1.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and it happen, in the event of war, that they also join our enemies and fight against us, and <i>so</i> go up out of the land.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/exodus/1.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, otherwise they will multiply, and in the event of war, they will also join those who hate us, and fight against us and depart from the land.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/exodus/1.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220Come, let us deal wisely with them, or else they will multiply and in the event of war, they will also join themselves to those who hate us, and fight against us and depart from the land.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/exodus/1.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“Come, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply and in the event of war, they also join themselves to those who hate us, and fight against us, and depart from the land.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/exodus/1.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />Come, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply and it be in the event of war, that they also join themselves to those who hate us and fight against us and go up from the land.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/exodus/1.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, so that they will not multiply and in the event of war, join our enemies, and fight against us and escape from the land.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/exodus/1.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Come, let’s deal shrewdly with them; otherwise they will multiply further, and when war breaks out, they will join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/exodus/1.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />Let us deal shrewdly with them; otherwise they will multiply further, and if war breaks out, they may join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/exodus/1.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />come, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they also join themselves unto our enemies, and fight against us, and get them up out of the land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/exodus/1.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />If we don't outsmart them, their families will keep growing larger. And if our country goes to war, they could easily fight on the side of our enemies and escape from Egypt. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/exodus/1.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />come, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they also join themselves unto our enemies, and fight against us, and get them up out of the land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/exodus/1.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />We have to outsmart them, or they'll increase in number. Then, if war breaks out, they will join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/exodus/1.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />In case of war they might join our enemies in order to fight against us, and might escape from the country. We must find some way to keep them from becoming even more numerous." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/exodus/1.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />Come on, let's be careful how we treat them, so that when they grow numerous, if a war breaks out they won't join our enemies, fight against us, and leave our land." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/exodus/1.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase even more; and if a war breaks out, they may join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/exodus/1.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />Come, let's deal wisely with them. Otherwise they will continue to multiply, and if a war breaks out, they will ally themselves with our enemies and fight against us and leave the country." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/exodus/1.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />Come, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply, and it happen that when any war breaks out, they also join themselves to our enemies, and fight against us, and escape out of the land."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/exodus/1.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />Come, let us deal wisely with them: lest they multiply, and it shall come to pass, that when there falleth out any war, they will join with our enemies, and fight against us, and depart from the land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/exodus/1.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />Come, let’s deal wisely with them, lest they multiply, and it happen that when any war breaks out, they also join themselves to our enemies and fight against us, and escape out of the land.” <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/exodus/1.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />Give help! Let us act wisely concerning it, lest it multiply, and it has come to pass, when war happens, that it has been joined, even it, to those hating us, and has fought against us, and has gone up out of the land.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/exodus/1.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> give help! let us act wisely concerning it, lest it multiply, and it hath come to pass, when war happeneth, that it hath been joined, even it, unto those hating us, and hath fought against us, and hath gone out up of the land.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/exodus/1.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />Come, we will be wise with them, lest they shall multiply, and it was when war shall happen, and also being added to our armies and fighting against us, and they went up from the land.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/exodus/1.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />Come, let us wisely oppress them, lest they multiply: and if any war shall rise against us, join with our enemies, and having overcome us, depart out of the land. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/exodus/1.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />Come, let us wisely oppress them, lest they multiply; and if any war should advance against us, they may be added to our enemies, and having fought against us, they might depart from the land.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/exodus/1.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />Come, let us deal shrewdly with them to stop their increase; otherwise, in time of war they too may join our enemies to fight against us, and so leave the land.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/exodus/1.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, or they will increase and, in the event of war, join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/exodus/1.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />Come, let us deal wisely with them, before they multiply, lest when we chance to be at war, they will be added also to our enemies, and fight against us, and so drive us out of the land.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/exodus/1.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />Grant that we will be wise concerning them before they are multiplied, lest we come to war and they are added also unto our haters, and they will fight with us and they will drive us out from the land.”<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/exodus/1.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />come, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there befalleth us any war, they also join themselves unto our enemies, and fight against us, and get them up out of the land.'<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/exodus/1.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/exodus/1-10.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kVae3PiKqhs?start=51" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/exodus/1.htm">Oppression by a New King</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">9</span>“Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become too numerous and too powerful for us. <span class="reftext">10</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/3051.htm" title="3051: hā·ḇāh (V-Qal-Imp-ms:: 3fs) -- To give. A primitive root; to give; generally, to put; imperatively come.">Come,</a> <a href="/hebrew/2449.htm" title="2449: niṯ·ḥak·kə·māh (V-Hitpael-Imperf.Cohort-1cp) -- To be wise. A primitive root, to be wise.">let us deal shrewdly</a> <a href="/hebrew/lōw (Prep:: 3ms) -- ">with them,</a> <a href="/hebrew/6435.htm" title="6435: pen- (Conj) -- Lest. From panah; properly, removal; used only adverb as conjunction, lest.">or</a> <a href="/hebrew/7235.htm" title="7235: yir·beh (V-Qal-Imperf-3ms) -- To be or become much, many or great. A primitive root; to increase.">they will increase even more;</a> <a href="/hebrew/1961.htm" title="1961: wə·hā·yāh (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-3ms) -- To fall out, come to pass, become, be. A primitive root; to exist, i.e. Be or become, come to pass.">and if</a> <a href="/hebrew/3588.htm" title="3588: kî- (Conj) -- That, for, when. "></a> <a href="/hebrew/4421.htm" title="4421: mil·ḥā·māh (N-fs) -- A battle, war. From lacham; a battle; generally, war.">a war</a> <a href="/hebrew/7122.htm" title="7122: ṯiq·re·nāh (V-Qal-Imperf-3fp) -- To encounter, befall. A primitive root: to encounter, whether accidentally or in a hostile manner.">breaks out,</a> <a href="/hebrew/1931.htm" title="1931: hū (Pro-3ms) -- He, she, it. ">they</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘al- (Prep) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications."></a> <a href="/hebrew/3254.htm" title="3254: wə·nō·w·sap̄ (Conj-w:: V-Nifal-ConjPerf-3ms) -- To add. A primitive root; to add or augment.">may join</a> <a href="/hebrew/1571.htm" title="1571: gam- (Conj) -- Also, moreover, yea. "></a> <a href="/hebrew/8130.htm" title="8130: śō·nə·’ê·nū (V-Qal-Prtcpl-mpc:: 1cp) -- To hate. A primitive root; to hate.">our enemies,</a> <a href="/hebrew/3898.htm" title="3898: wə·nil·ḥam- (Conj-w:: V-Nifal-ConjPerf-3ms) -- To feed on, to consume, to battle. A primitive root; to feed on; figuratively, to consume; by implication, to battle.">fight</a> <a href="/hebrew/bā·nū (Prep:: 1cp) -- ">against us,</a> <a href="/hebrew/5927.htm" title="5927: wə·‘ā·lāh (Conj-w:: V-Qal-ConjPerf-3ms) -- A primitive root; to ascend, intransitively or actively; used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative.">and leave</a> <a href="/hebrew/4480.htm" title="4480: min- (Prep) -- From. Or minniy; or minney; for men; properly, a part of; hence, from or out of in many senses."></a> <a href="/hebrew/776.htm" title="776: hā·’ā·reṣ (Art:: N-fs) -- Earth, land. From an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth.">the country.”</a> </span><span class="reftext">11</span>So the Egyptians appointed taskmasters over the Israelites to oppress them with forced labor. As a result, they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/11-4.htm">Genesis 11:4</a></span><br />“Come,” they said, “let us build for ourselves a city with a tower that reaches to the heavens, that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of all the earth.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/15-13.htm">Genesis 15:13-14</a></span><br />Then the LORD said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. / But I will judge the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will depart with many possessions.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/7-19.htm">Acts 7:19</a></span><br />He exploited our people and oppressed our fathers, forcing them to abandon their infants so they would die.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/105-25.htm">Psalm 105:25</a></span><br />whose hearts He turned to hate His people, to conspire against His servants.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/acts/7-6.htm">Acts 7:6</a></span><br />God told him that his descendants would be foreigners in a strange land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/47-11.htm">Genesis 47:11</a></span><br />So Joseph settled his father and brothers in the land of Egypt and gave them property in the best part of the land, the district of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/47-27.htm">Genesis 47:27</a></span><br />Now the Israelites settled in the land of Egypt, in the region of Goshen. They acquired property there and became fruitful and increased greatly in number.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/deuteronomy/26-6.htm">Deuteronomy 26:6</a></span><br />But the Egyptians mistreated us and afflicted us, putting us to hard labor.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/nehemiah/9-10.htm">Nehemiah 9:10</a></span><br />You performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh, all his officials, and all the people of his land, for You knew they had acted with arrogance against our fathers. You made a name for Yourself that endures to this day.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/52-4.htm">Isaiah 52:4</a></span><br />For this is what the Lord GOD says: “At first My people went down to Egypt to live, then Assyria oppressed them without cause.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/12-33.htm">Exodus 12:33</a></span><br />And in order to send them out of the land quickly, the Egyptians urged the people on. “For otherwise,” they said, “we are all going to die!”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/14-5.htm">Exodus 14:5</a></span><br />When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, “What have we done? We have released Israel from serving us.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/14-9.htm">Exodus 14:9</a></span><br />The Egyptians—all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots, horsemen and troops—pursued the Israelites and overtook them as they camped by the sea near Pi-hahiroth, opposite Baal-zephon.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/exodus/15-9.htm">Exodus 15:9</a></span><br />The enemy declared, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake. I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword; my hand will destroy them.’<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/numbers/22-6.htm">Numbers 22:6</a></span><br />So please come now and put a curse on this people, because they are too mighty for me. Perhaps I may be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land; for I know that those you bless are blessed, and those you curse are cursed.”</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falls out any war, they join also to our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.</p><p class="hdg">Come on.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/10-2.htm">Psalm 10:2</a></b></br> The wicked in <i>his</i> pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/83-3.htm">Psalm 83:3,4</a></b></br> They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/1-11.htm">Proverbs 1:11</a></b></br> If they say, Come with us, let us lay wait for blood, let us lurk privily for the innocent without cause:</p><p class="hdg">wisely.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/numbers/22-6.htm">Numbers 22:6</a></b></br> Come now therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people; for they <i>are</i> too mighty for me: peradventure I shall prevail, <i>that</i> we may smite them, and <i>that</i> I may drive them out of the land: for I wot that he whom thou blessest <i>is</i> blessed, and he whom thou cursest is cursed.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/job/5-13.htm">Job 5:13</a></b></br> He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the froward is carried headlong.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/105-25.htm">Psalm 105:25</a></b></br> He turned their heart to hate his people, to deal subtilly with his servants.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/ecclesiastes/3-19.htm">Befalleth</a> <a href="/genesis/32-26.htm">Breaks</a> <a href="/genesis/47-29.htm">Deal</a> <a href="/genesis/49-10.htm">Depart</a> <a href="/genesis/49-8.htm">Enemies</a> <a href="/genesis/45-7.htm">Escape</a> <a href="/galatians/3-8.htm">Event</a> <a href="/genesis/50-1.htm">Falleth</a> <a href="/genesis/32-28.htm">Fight</a> <a href="/genesis/50-15.htm">Hate</a> <a href="/genesis/34-9.htm">Join</a> <a href="/exodus/1-7.htm">Multiply</a> <a href="/genesis/50-18.htm">Themselves</a> <a href="/genesis/31-26.htm">War</a> <a href="/james/3-13.htm">Wisely</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/ecclesiastes/3-19.htm">Befalleth</a> <a href="/exodus/22-6.htm">Breaks</a> <a href="/exodus/5-15.htm">Deal</a> <a href="/exodus/6-11.htm">Depart</a> <a href="/exodus/23-22.htm">Enemies</a> <a href="/leviticus/26-37.htm">Escape</a> <a href="/exodus/12-24.htm">Event</a> <a href="/exodus/15-16.htm">Falleth</a> <a href="/exodus/14-14.htm">Fight</a> <a href="/exodus/20-5.htm">Hate</a> <a href="/exodus/23-1.htm">Join</a> <a href="/exodus/1-20.htm">Multiply</a> <a href="/exodus/5-7.htm">Themselves</a> <a href="/exodus/13-17.htm">War</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/32-29.htm">Wisely</a><div class="vheading2">Exodus 1</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/1-1.htm">The children of Israel, after Joseph's death, increase.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/1-8.htm">The more they are oppressed by a new king, the more they multiply.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">15. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/1-15.htm">The godliness of the midwives in saving the male children alive.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">22. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/exodus/1-22.htm">Pharaoh commands the male children to be cast into the river</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script><br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/exodus/1.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div><b>Come, we must deal shrewdly with them</b><br />This phrase marks the beginning of Pharaoh's plan to suppress the Israelites. The Hebrew word for "deal shrewdly" is "נִתְחַכְּמָה" (nithchakkemah), which implies a cunning or strategic approach. Historically, this reflects the Egyptian rulers' fear of losing control over a growing foreign population within their borders. The Israelites were seen as a potential threat due to their increasing numbers and strength. This phrase sets the stage for the ensuing oppression, highlighting the tension between the Egyptians and the Israelites.<p><b>or they will increase</b><br />The concern here is the rapid population growth of the Israelites. The Hebrew root "רָבָה" (ravah) means to multiply or become numerous. This reflects God's blessing upon the Israelites, as promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, that their descendants would be as numerous as the stars. The Egyptians' fear of this growth underscores the fulfillment of God's promises, even in the face of adversity.<p><b>and if war breaks out</b><br />This phrase indicates the Egyptians' fear of external threats and internal instability. Historically, Egypt was a powerful nation but faced threats from neighboring regions. The possibility of war exacerbated their fear of the Israelites, who might ally with enemies. This reflects the political and military concerns of the time, where alliances could shift the balance of power.<p><b>they may join our enemies</b><br />The Egyptians feared that the Israelites might side with their adversaries. This reflects a common ancient Near Eastern concern about loyalty and the potential for internal groups to collaborate with external foes. The Israelites, as a distinct ethnic group within Egypt, were seen as a wildcard in the event of conflict, highlighting the Egyptians' insecurity and the precariousness of their dominance.<p><b>fight against us</b><br />This phrase emphasizes the perceived threat of the Israelites as a potential military force. The Egyptians were concerned about the Israelites' ability to rise against them, which speaks to the Israelites' growing strength and numbers. This fear of rebellion is a recurring theme in history, where dominant powers often suppress minority groups to maintain control.<p><b>and leave the country</b><br />The ultimate fear was that the Israelites would depart, taking their labor and economic contributions with them. The Hebrew word "עָלָה" (alah) means to go up or ascend, often used in the context of leaving or exodus. This foreshadows the eventual Exodus, where the Israelites do indeed leave Egypt, fulfilling God's promise of deliverance. The Egyptians' fear of losing their workforce highlights their dependence on the Israelites and sets the stage for the dramatic events that follow.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/exodus/1.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(10) <span class= "bld">Let us deal wisely.</span>--Instead of open force, the king proposes stratagem. He thinks that he has hit upon a <span class= "ital">wise </span>scheme--a clever plan--by which the numbers of the Israelites will be kept down, and they will cease to be formidable. The nature of the plan appears in <a href="/exodus/1-11.htm" title="Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.">Exodus 1:11</a>.<p><span class= "bld">When there falleth out any war.</span>--The Egyptians were in general an aggressive people--a terror to their neighbours, and seldom the object of attack. But about the beginning of the nineteenth dynasty a change took place. "A great nation grew up beyond the frontier on the north-east to an importance and power which began to endanger the Egyptian supremacy in Western Asia" (Brugsch, <span class= "ital">History of Egypt, </span>vol. ii. p. 2). War threatened them from this quarter, and the impending danger was felt to be great.<p><span class= "bld">They join also.</span>--Rather, <span class= "ital">they too join. </span>It was not.likely that the Hebrews would have any real sympathy with the attacking nation, whether Arabs, Philistines, Syrians, or Hittites; but they might regard an invasion as affording them a good opportunity of striking a blow for freedom, and, therefore, attack the Egyptians simultaneously with their other foes. The Egyptians themselves would perhaps suppose a closer connection between them and the other Eastern races than really existed.<p><span class= "bld">Get them up out of the land.</span>--The Pharaohs of the nineteenth dynasty were excessively jealous of the withdrawal from Egypt of any of their subjects, and endeavoured both to hinder and to recover them. Immigration was encouraged, emigration sternly checked. The loss of the entire nation of the Hebrews could not be contemplated without extreme alarm.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/exodus/1.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 10.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">Come on</span>. The "Come then" of Kalisch is better. <span class="cmt_word">Let us deal wisely</span>. "The children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light." Severe grinding labour has often been used as a means of keeping down the aspirations of a people, if not of actually diminishing their numbers, and has been found to answer. Aristotle (Pol. 5:9) ascribes to this motive the building of the Pyramids and the great works of Polycrates of Samos, Pisistratus of Athens, and the Cypselidae of Corinth. The constructions of the last Tarquin are thought to have had the same object (Liv. 1:56; Niebuhr, 'Roman History,' vol. 1. p. 479). <span class="cmt_word">Lest, when there falleth out any war</span>, <span class="cmt_word">they join also to our enemies</span>. 'At the accession of the nineteenth dynasty, though there was peace, war threatened. While the Egyptians, under the later monarchs of the eighteenth dynasty, had been quarrelling among themselves, a great nation upon their borders "had been growing up to an importance and power which began to endanger the Egyptian supremacy in Western Asia" (Brugsch, 'History of Egypt,' vol. 2. p. 2). Both Rameses I. and his son Seti had almost immediately after their accession to engage in a war, which was rather defensive the, offensive, with the Khita, or Hittites, who were the great power of Syria (<span class="accented">ib</span>. pp. 9, 15, 16). At the commencement of his reign, Seti may well have feared a renewed invasion like that of the Hyksos, which would no doubt have been greatly helped by a rising of the Israelites. <span class="cmt_word">And so get them up out of the land</span>. Literally, "And go up out of the land." The Pharaoh already fears that the Israelites will quit Egypt. As men of peaceful and industrious habits, and in some cases of considerable wealth (Joseph. 'Ant. Jud.' 2:9, § 1), they at once increased the strength of Egypt and the revenue of the monarch. Egypt was always ready to receive refugees, and loth to lose them. We find in a treaty made by Rameses II., the son of Seti, with the Hittites, a proviso that any Egyptian subjects who quit the country, and transfer themselves to the dominion of the Hittite king, shall be sent back to Egypt ('Records of the Past,' vol. 4. p. 30). <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/exodus/1-10.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">Come,</span><br /><span class="heb">הָ֥בָה</span> <span class="translit">(hā·ḇāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3051.htm">Strong's 3051: </a> </span><span class="str2">To give, to put, imperatively, come</span><br /><br /><span class="word">we must deal shrewdly with them,</span><br /><span class="heb">נִֽתְחַכְּמָ֖ה</span> <span class="translit">(niṯ·ḥak·kə·māh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Hitpael - Imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2449.htm">Strong's 2449: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be wise</span><br /><br /><span class="word">or</span><br /><span class="heb">פֶּן־</span> <span class="translit">(pen-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunction<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_6435.htm">Strong's 6435: </a> </span><span class="str2">Removal, lest</span><br /><br /><span class="word">they will increase even more;</span><br /><span class="heb">יִרְבֶּ֗ה</span> <span class="translit">(yir·beh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7235.htm">Strong's 7235: </a> </span><span class="str2">To be or become much, many or great</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and if</span><br /><span class="heb">וְהָיָ֞ה</span> <span class="translit">(wə·hā·yāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1961.htm">Strong's 1961: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fall out, come to pass, become, be</span><br /><br /><span class="word">a war</span><br /><span class="heb">מִלְחָמָה֙</span> <span class="translit">(mil·ḥā·māh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_4421.htm">Strong's 4421: </a> </span><span class="str2">A battle, war</span><br /><br /><span class="word">breaks out,</span><br /><span class="heb">תִקְרֶ֤אנָה</span> <span class="translit">(ṯiq·re·nāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_7122.htm">Strong's 7122: </a> </span><span class="str2">To encounter, befall</span><br /><br /><span class="word">they</span><br /><span class="heb">הוּא֙</span> <span class="translit">(hū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Pronoun - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1931.htm">Strong's 1931: </a> </span><span class="str2">He, self, the same, this, that, as, are</span><br /><br /><span class="word">may join</span><br /><span class="heb">וְנוֹסַ֤ף</span> <span class="translit">(wə·nō·w·sap̄)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3254.htm">Strong's 3254: </a> </span><span class="str2">To add, augment</span><br /><br /><span class="word">our enemies,</span><br /><span class="heb">שֹׂ֣נְאֵ֔ינוּ</span> <span class="translit">(śō·nə·’ê·nū)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct | first person common plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8130.htm">Strong's 8130: </a> </span><span class="str2">To hate</span><br /><br /><span class="word">fight against us,</span><br /><span class="heb">וְנִלְחַם־</span> <span class="translit">(wə·nil·ḥam-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3898.htm">Strong's 3898: </a> </span><span class="str2">To feed on, to consume, to battle</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and leave</span><br /><span class="heb">וְעָלָ֥ה</span> <span class="translit">(wə·‘ā·lāh)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5927.htm">Strong's 5927: </a> </span><span class="str2">To ascend, in, actively</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the country.”</span><br /><span class="heb">הָאָֽרֶץ׃</span> <span class="translit">(hā·’ā·reṣ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Article | Noun - feminine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_776.htm">Strong's 776: </a> </span><span class="str2">Earth, land</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/exodus/1-10.htm">Exodus 1:10 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/exodus/1-10.htm">Exodus 1:10 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/exodus/1-10.htm">Exodus 1:10 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/exodus/1-10.htm">Exodus 1:10 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/exodus/1-10.htm">Exodus 1:10 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/exodus/1-10.htm">Exodus 1:10 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/exodus/1-10.htm">Exodus 1:10 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/exodus/1-10.htm">Exodus 1:10 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/exodus/1-10.htm">Exodus 1:10 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/exodus/1-10.htm">Exodus 1:10 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/exodus/1-10.htm">OT Law: Exodus 1:10 Come let us deal wisely with them (Exo. Ex) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/exodus/1-9.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Exodus 1:9"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Exodus 1:9" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/exodus/1-11.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Exodus 1:11"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Exodus 1:11" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>