There came to power in Egypt a new king who had never heard of Joseph.
Look, he said to his people, the Israelites are now more numerous and
powerful than we are.
We must take precautions to stop them from increasing any further, or if war
should break out, they might join the ranks of our enemies, and they might
take up arms against us.
The king of Egypt then spoke to the Hebrew midwives, Shiphrah and Puah.
When you attend Hebrew women in childbirth, he said, examine the child. If it
is a boy, kill him. If it is a girl, let her live.