What does Exodus 1:7 mean?
In contrast with the first generation of Jacob's family that numbered seventy people (Exodus 1:5), the Israelites were now "fruitful and increased greatly." This was a continuation of God's command to Adam (Genesis 1:28), to Noah (Genesis 9:1), and to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 26:1–5). Joseph would be used to bring the sons of Jacob to Egypt where they would become a nation (Genesis 37:26–27; 45:5–8; 50:20). Moses would be the man used by God to bring them back to the land He had promised to give to Abraham and his descendants forever (Genesis 13:14–17).Further details are also added to describe the numerical growth of the Jewish people. God's blessing is evident in the bearing of many children among the Israelites. The result was a densely populated area of Goshen. For the people of Israel to simply live there was tolerable. But, once the non-Egyptian population grew to such a size, their potential power threatened the neighboring Egyptians. This uneasy situation serves as the backdrop for Pharaoh's harsh treatment of the Jews (Exodus 1:8).
Exodus 1:1–14 describes the explosive growth of the nation of Israel and the erosion of their relationship to Egypt. Joseph's efforts in the past saved Egypt from ruin, and his family was welcomed into the land. Generations later, the drastic increase in their population is seen as a threat to the Egyptian people. Motivated by a combination of fear and disgust, the king of Egypt brutally enslaves the people of Israel to reduce their numbers. This effort fails, and the following passage shows Pharaoh resorting to infanticide.
The children of Abraham and Jacob grow rapidly, forming a prosperous nation made up of twelve tribes, one for each son of Jacob. This inspires fear and hate from the Egyptians. Their king first tries to slow down the Hebrews' growth by enslaving them. Next, he increases the brutality of their work. Then, he tries to command Jewish midwives to kill their own people's newborn baby boys. When these all fail, he openly orders the murder of all Jewish infant boys. Inadvertently, this creates the very situation which leads to the rise of Israel's eventual leader, Moses.