SHIPRAH & PUAH: The Egyptian Midwives

On Thursday at Morning Prayer we read from the first chapter of Exodus, where the story is told of how the Hebrew people were saved from extinction by the ingenuity of two Egyptian midwives, Shiprah and Puah. These two women were charged by Pharaoh to kill any male Jewish baby that they helped deliver. Powerless to resist Pharaoh’s ruthless command, they resisted its implementation simply by going very slowly to whatever Hebrew household to which they had been summoned. When interrogated by Pharaoh, they blamed the whole problem on the friskiness of the Hebrew mothers: “…the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women,” they explained, “for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife gets to them.” (Exodus 1:19)

These two heroic women are rarely mentioned from Christian pulpits, but to me they are prototypes for the kind of nonviolent resistance God uses to accomplish the divine agenda in the world. When I first discovered them several years ago, my admiration inspired me to compose the following “psalmic verses”.

A PSALM OF SACRED IRREVERENCE

O how strange is your wisdom, O God, * how subtle your judgments, how masterful your

process of indirection!

Surely, Coyote is your emissary, * and Raven your plenipotentiary.

When Israel was enslaved in Egypt, Pharaoh commanded the midwives to kill the

little Jewish boys, * as soon as they were born.

Pharaoh commanded Shiphrah and Puah; * he commanded, and they had no choice but to

obey.

But they hastened very slowly, * whenever they were called for.

They explained themselves to Pharaoh, * they offered this excuse:

“The Hebrew women are too fast for us; * by the time we reach the birthing-place, they

have already delivered, and their new-born boys are hid from you.”

Thus were Pharaoh’s plans subverted, * and Israel preserved.

Pharaoh raged and cursed, * but the midwives rolled their eyes and said, “tee-hee.”

How ridiculous are the mighty, O God, * when they set themselves against you!

In vain do they wage war against infants, * and command the merciful to commit acts of

cruelty!

For awhile, they seem invincible, * but history soon forgets them, and robbers

desecrate their tombs.

But let Shiphrah and Puah be remembered, * and their names be praised in Israel.

Wherever childbirth is respected, * and midwives held in high esteem.

Wherever slaves move slowly, * to follow ruthless orders given by the strong.

God’s praise is sung among the lowly, * among those who act with kindness, even

when it places them at risk.

While the cities of the ruthless fall into ruin, * and sand blows over them.

Coyote howls among the fallen pyramids, * and Raven cackles at their tombs.