He said to his people, “Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 9. Numerous. Calvisius observes, that from Ephraim alone might have sprung 4,112,323,729 people. See Saint Augustine q. 43, and so forth Bible.—In the space of 215 years, 70 people may produce an immense multitude, as Bonfrere shews by an accurate calculation. God also was pleased to bless the Hebrews with fecundity, so that they sprung up (ebullierunt) like frogs or fishes, verse 7. In Egypt, the women had sometimes seven at a birth (Plin. vii. 3,) and Aristotle (Anim. vii. 4,) mentions one woman who had 20 children at four births. Tirinus.—Stronger. This might easily be true, if this king had only Thebais under his command. But if he was king of all Egypt, it seems an exaggeration. Calmet.—Indeed, human policy often gives birth to all kinds of wickedness. The king justifies his cruelty on this pretext of self-defence. He wishes to keep the Hebrews under; yet he is not willing to let them depart, as he knew they intended, according to Joseph’s prediction. Bible.—God permitted this disposition, in order to punish his people for their idolatry, (Ezekiel 23:8,) to admonish them not to fix their abode in Egypt, and to manifest his power and glory in the destruction of the impious. Menochius.
“Behold”, from “הִנֵּה”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.