Definition: And the king of Egypt spake to the Hebrew midwives, of which the name of the one [was] Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah:

Explanation: Okay, let's break down this verse from Exodus 1:15. It’s a really important part of the story of how the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt. Here's what it means, explained simply: The Basic Idea: This verse tells us that Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt, spoke to two people – Shiphrah and Puah – who were involved in helping the Israelites. Let’s unpack each part: “And the king of Egypt spake” : This means Pharaoh was speaking. “Spoke” is a bit formal, suggesting a powerful ruler. “…to the Hebrew midwives…” : This identifies the people who were being addressed – the Hebrew midwives. They were tasked with helping the Israelites. “of which the name of the one [was] Shiphrah…” : This introduces Shiphrah. He was a man who was specifically involved in assisting the Israelites. The word "one" is important here - it means he was a key person. “…and the name of the other Puah:” This introduces Puah. She was another person involved in helping the Israelites. What does this tell us about their role? The verse implies that these two individuals were likely involved in helping the Israelites, potentially by arranging for them to be killed or forced into slavery. It's a bit mysterious – why did Pharaoh ask this question? Important Note: This is a very early and somewhat unsettling part of the story. It was a difficult situation for the Israelites, and it’s important to remember that this passage doesn’t excuse their enslavement but describes a moment where Pharaoh was trying to make things even harder. In short, this verse sets up a situation where Pharaoh is asking for help from two people who were involved in helping his people be enslaved. --- Do you want me to: Explain the context of Exodus 1:15? Discuss what might have been happening at the time? Or, would you like me to go into more detail about the significance of this verse within the larger story of the Israelites’ journey?