Therefore God dealt well with the midwives: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty.
Therefore God dealt well with the midwives ... This represents God as rewarding them for telling a lie. The difficulty is wholly removed by a more correct translation. To 'make' or to 'build a house,' in Hebrew idiom, means to have a numerous progeny (cf. 2 Samuel 7:11 with Exo. 1:27 ; also Ruth 4:11). The passage, then, should be rendered thus: 'God protected the midwives, and the people waxed very mighty; and because the midwives feared God, the Hebrews grew and prospered.' [The Septuagint has epoieesan heautois oikias-`they made houses for themselves;' i:e. the midwives were held in so high estimation for their kindness, and their steady principle, that, through the favours and rewards heaped upon them, they became wealthy and prosperous; and it was in this way the blessing of Providence rested on them.]