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PARSHAT SHEMOT Israel was redeemed from Egypt in the merit of the righteous women from that generation (Sota 11b). Learning about the Jewish midwives who played an important role in the redemption from the Egyptian exile can inspire us to help bring our future redemption. WHO WERE THE MIDWIVES IN EGYPT? And the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of the one was Shifra, and the name of the second Puah (Shemot 1:15). Considering the immense population explosion among the Jews during the Egyptian exile, the obvious question arises, how is it possible that two midwives could be sufficient for a nation as great as Israel? Ibn Ezra explains that these two were in charge of all the midwives, for there is no doubt that there were more than 500 midwives. According to Abarbanel, there were two types of midwives. The Shifra type would take care of the baby, and clean it, while the Puah type would help the woman in labor with her breathing and prayer. This view concurs with Rashi's explanation, based on Sota 11b that SHIFRA was Yocheved, from the language of "meshaperet" which means to improve. She used to take care of the baby after its birth and put it into good physical condition. PUAH - This was Miriam. She used to speak aloud and croon to the baby just as women do to soothe a child when it is crying. Maharsha explains that the language "The name of the one…" and the name of the second…" is never found in Scripture unless it has previously stated that there were two. Since it stated that "the name of one was Shifra, and the name of the second Puah," without previously stating that there were two, it must be that their names were known from another place. THE NAMES OF THEIR FAITH Kli Yakar reveals that Puah, the language of speaking, refers to
Miriam because she spoke in prophecy, as it states, "and Miriam
the prophetess, the sister of Aharon…" (Shemot 15:20).
She prophesied saying, "In the future my mother will give birth
to a son who will redeem Israel." Shifra is Yocheved who returned
to the beauty (shofra) of her youth when she was hundred and thirty
years old. This miracle was a sign that she would give birth to
the redeemer of Israel, because a miracle is never performed without
a reason. Scripture therefore uses these names to emphasize that
the redeemer would come forth from her. Another reason why Scripture
mentioned these names is to show how the midwives did not doubt
the redemption, and therefore refused to heed Pharaoh's command.
Had they doubted, they might have agreed to Pharaoh's decree, rationalizing
that it would be better for the children to die young, than to grow
up to a life full of pain and servitude.
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