The Israelites are multiplied in Egypt. They are oppressed by a new king, who commandeth all their male children to be killed.
1:1. These are the names of the children of Israel, that went into Egypt with Jacob: they went in every man with his household:
1:2. Ruben, Simeon, Levi, Juda,
1:3. Issachar, Zabulon, and Benjamin,
1:4. Dan, and Nephthali, Gad and Aser.
1:5. And all the souls that came out of Jacob's thigh, were seventy: but Joseph was in Egypt.
1:6. After he was dead, and all his brethren, and all that generation,
1:7. The children of Israel increased, and sprung up into multitudes, and growing exceedingly strong they filled the land.
1:8. In the mean time there arose a new king over Egypt, that knew not Joseph:
1:9. And he said to his people: Behold the people of the children of Israel are numerous and stronger than we.