But the midwives feared God, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the men children alive.
17. But the midwives feared God. Moses does not mean that they were then first affected with the fear of God; but he assigns this reason why they did not obey his unjust command, viz., because reverence towards God had greater influence with them.
The enmity of the seed of the serpent against the seed of the woman divests men of humanity itself and makes them forget all pity. Even confessed innocence is no defence against this old enmity; what blood so guiltless as that of a newborn child, yet it is shed like water and sucked with delight. Pharaoh and Herod proved themselves agents for that great red dragon, standing to devour God's people.
AI summary
Commenting on Exodus 1:15-22
But the midwives feared God,.... And therefore durst not take away the life of an human creature, which was contrary to the express law of God, Gen 9:6, and did not as the king of Egypt commanded them; knowing it was right to obey God rather than man, though ever so great, or in so exalted a station: but saved the men children alive; did...