Pharaoh’s oppression multiplies Israel; midwives; drowning males

have been benefited rather than wronged according to the truth. For Pharaoh was fearing seeing the Hebrews stretching unto an unmeasured multitude; and attempting most wickedly to punish the rush and increase in this, ‘He set over them,’ it says, ‘overseers of the works, that they might maltreat them in the works.’ And the plan is overturned for them toward the opposite. For the maltreatment brought upon them was a pretext for them of the increase unto multitude, God managing the matter, and as it were setting his own grace against that one’s knaveries. For ‘Inasmuch as they were humbling them,’ it says, ‘by so much they were becoming more and were strong.’ For Satan brings on the afflictions, grinding his teeth against the saints, and always somehow selectively leaping upon those whom God was claiming as his own; for ‘His foods are choice,’ it says; but those toiling in these things will be better than them when tested; and the steadfastness in contests shows them altogether more famous, so that through things by which he would be thought to pain and to do evil, through these especially and not willingly he would benefit, and through what he has supposed he will take he finishes them stronger. And when the crafty sophism ends for Pharaoh unto an unexpected end, and through what he was maltreating he was also further benefiting, late and barely he perceives, and at once changes the manner of the plot; for having sent for the Hebrews’ midwives, ‘When you midwife the Hebrew women,’ he says, ‘and they are toward bearing, if it is male, kill it, and if female, preserve it.’ And the midwives feared God, and did not do just as the king of Egypt arranged for them, and they were keeping the males alive.’ And when his unholy and murderous counsel against the race is idle—for God was not letting the midwives act impiously—he thereafter goes over unto wronging openly, and no longer thought it right to pain secretly, but already somehow chooses war nakedly, and votes a harsh death of those being born. For ‘Pharaoh arranged,’ it says, ‘for all his people saying: Every male that is born to the Hebrews, throw into the river, and every female, keep it alive.’ For he cares for the female not at all—for woman is an unwarlike thing, and not elegant unto understanding; but the male pains him in both ways, as wise and most fight-ready. Therefore most sweet and altogether according to heart for the murderous dragon—I mean Satan—is a womanish mind of soul, made soft and without strength; and toward this also being sick with the unsuitedness unto wisdom, yet hated and abominated is the eagerness unto courage, and better than softness, and superior to cowardice, and the very most thoughtful. Because of this he keeps the female alive, and somehow stands off from the murderous counsel and plan upon it. For I think it is silly to seek to fight those already laid under from themselves, and sick from home with loving to be yoked under; but he stifles as it were the male, casting him into circumstances of trials. This also the divine David seems to me