Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph.
8. Now there arose a new king. When more than one hundred years had been happily passed in freedom and repose, the condition of the elect people began to be changed. Moses relates that the commencement of their troubles proceeded from jealousy, and from the groundless fear of the Egyptians, because they conceived that danger might arise from this strange nation, unless they hastened to oppress it.
Egypt, that happy shelter for Israel, became a house of bondage when a king arose who knew not Joseph. The best service rendered to men is soonest forgotten after death; but if we serve God, our labor will not be lost. Better to work for Him than for men, whose memory fails and gratitude with it.
AI summary
Commenting on Exodus 1:8-14
Now there arose up a new king over Egypt,.... Stephen calls him another king, Act 7:18 one of another family, according to Josephus (g); who was not of the seed royal, as Aben Ezra; and Sir John Marsham (h) thinks this was Salatis, who, according to Manetho (i), was the first of the Hycsi or pastor kings that ruled in lower Egypt; but these kings...