Translating without Reading
And because the midwives feared God, he gave them families. Exodus 1:21 ESV
Families – Here’s the problem. The pronoun expression “them” is lahem. It is the preposition le plus the pronoun hem. But the pronoun here is masculine in spite of the fact that we assume it refers to the midwives. Something doesn’t look right. This grammatical “mistake” has caused various attempts to translate the words. You can refer to the JPS Torah Commentary to Exodus to read about that struggle. But there is an even more important issue in this little verse that will help us resolve this grammatical issue.
The word that the ESV translates “families” is battim. It comes from bayit, a word that means “home.” Literally, this verse should say, “he gave them homes.” But what does that mean? Does it mean that before they served God by not killing the Hebrew babies they lived on the street? Does it mean that God provided them with new accommodations? I doubt God was a real estate agent. The translators of the ESV change the word to “families,” thereby implying that the midwives were previously childless. But what is the justification for that? The problem with this translation is that it ignores the plain meaning of battim in favor of a gloss that offers more than the text supplies. But the JPS translation appears just as untenable. It translates “he established households for them.” Once again the implication is that these midwives were either homeless or barren or unmarried. Any of these must be added to the text.
Perhaps we just read the text without actually reading it as it is. Perhaps our association with midwives, women and children is so strong that we fail to see what is right on the surface of the text. The text literally says “God made them homes.” We think that this means God created something that He offered to them. But what if it means that God made homes out of them! Let me try again. In the days when Pharaoh was trying to kill every male baby, the midwives not only delivered these children but also protected and nourished them so that they could live. The midwives became a “home,” a place of security, normal growth and health for these children. God made them safe havens for Israelite male babies. He made the midwives “homes.” Is it necessary to impose upon the text an idea of reward for righteous action? God simply converted what they were doing into the word battim.
And now the problem with lahem disappears. Lahem refers to the male babies, not the midwives. God made safe havens (the midwives) for the male babies. The midwives didn’t get special rewards for their obedience (do we need God to give us added incentives in order to obey Him?). They just did what they knew God wanted, and as a result, they changed the shape of the universe. Moses was the direct result of their obedience. Every man and woman on earth has been blessed because of them. Is that not enough?
What do we learn? Perhaps we discover how deeply involved we are in our own paradigms (reward and punishment). Perhaps we learn that we too often read more into the text than we thought. But certainly we discover that the text isn’t mistaken. The pronoun is masculine for a reason. We just have to think more clearly. Finally, we must discover that we serve Him because we know it is the right thing to do. No reward expected.
Topical Index: lahem, battim, homes, reward, Exodus 1:21, midwives
This seems to go along with the gifts to serve are just that. We are to cultivate and protect them, not looking for reward because we were given the gift. Am I reading and understanding this correctly. For years I was taught the “give and it shall be given to you, good measure pressed down and running over, men shall give in your bosom.” But, reading the before and after content Yeshua was talking about forgiveness not money and we weren’t even getting the true richness right in front of our eyes.
Wow, that was great insight.
I like knowing that the midwives got out of this exactly the reward that anyone who assists a birth of a baby for no other ulterior motive should want: to see that baby be free to grow up in a good home. That accomplishment produces a profound satisfaction for any of the other people involved that feels almost as good as those parents are already feeling with that baby. Births are wildly exciting in their own right for everyone involved in them.. They are profoundly altruistic moments; this bringing new life into the world. Too fun already. It always pleased me to know that Pharoah’s plans were frustrated, and that there was a good outcome. All the happy people got to stay happy with those babies. What better happiness could there be?
Domestic Divas
~ ..but a woman that fears the LORD, – she shall be (greatly) praised! ~(Proverbs 31.30)
A house is not a home, without God as its foundation. The wise man built his home upon a Rock ( how firm a foundation!) but the foolish man, – (not so..). And the storms came.. And these “storms” (stormy weather, anyone?) beat upon both houses! But only one home weathered the storm!
A woman that fears the LORD- she shall be (greatly) praised. A virtuous (godly) woman is a crown to her husband. He that finds (-or was she – “given by God?”) a wife finds a good thing and obtains the favor of the LORD. Lol!- Friends, I am a “favored” man! Yes. Blessed by God (Himself!). I married “Wonder Woman!” A godly, virtuous (yes,- she is strong!) Ezer Kenegdo – a “help” fit (just right) for me. She is indeed.. my “good thing!”
Man (generically speaking) is often seen as the “Provider and Protector” of the home. Ahh, but let anyone “mess” with mama bear’s cubs and the word “woe” will “come into being!” Mama honey badger, if she is “called on” to protect her young ones, well.. “you can’t touch this!” The ten foot pole rule applies!- And will leave “someone” wishing for a longer pole!
~ But the midwives feared God, and did not as the (wicked) king of Egypt commanded.. (Exodus 1:17-21) Why? They not only feared God, but also obeyed the Torah/command/instructions of YHWH, – “you shall NOT kill” and as we (hopefully) know by this time, – the “consequence” of obedience is (always) blessing! For what father (or mother) among us does not (also) delight in obedient children?
We are all appointed to our time and place. Some times seem more pivotal or crucial in God’s plan, but all people of faith have the same calling. To do whatever it takes “for such a time as this”. This world is the great cosmic battlefield between good and evil. This is our “opportunity of eternity”. Our one chance to risk all, to give all, even our lives for the sake of God’s glorious plan. I feel the culmination of that battle approaching. A time when God’s people will be defined and refined. A time when we will be called on to do all we can, and having done all, to stand. By our willingness to act heroically, we enter into that hall of faith, that household of heroes, the house whose head is our messiah, the chief hero, the captain of our salvation. The reward will be that all things will be given to us; but we will be a people who understand that the only value in all that we have and all that we are is to give it to God and to those around us. The kingdom of God is a kingdom of heroes, a society of servant kings.
This verse always bothered me because I know something about birthing babies, both human and animal. Most midwives are midwives because they have had a lot of experience, both personal and helping others and animals give birth. They know what to do if problems develop along the birth process. Being a midwife is not something a young maiden would very likely be involved in. Implying that these midwives had no children of their own (ever) flies in the face of experiential knowledge. Most in this day and age with hospitals and the process of birth and death relegated to the medical community to deal with denies us the opportunity to witness aspects about our creator that I believe are important. It also allows us to make up and accept interpretations of things that don’t make a lot of sense in the real world.
Thank you for expounding on this today.
“They just did what they knew God wanted, and as a result, they changed the shape of the universe. ”
These midwives were naturally into saving lives, as in their Hebraic culture life is precious, and birthing new-borns were a delight, knowing what is pleasing to YHWH, disregarding their personal risks, conscious that the Pharoah was out to kill male new-borns.
“We just have to think more clearly.” But, Skip, our mindsets/paradigms have been soooooooo muddled, we have lost sight of the true picture of
the jigsaw puzzle, forcing strange pieces seemingly appearing to be right shapes into the wrong places.
Love digging into the Word through TWs. Blessing you many times over, for this ministry, Skip.