Exodus 1:20

“Wherefore God dealt well with the midwives, etc.] He approved of their conduct upon the whole, however difficult it may be to clear them from all blame in this matter; though some think that what they said was the truth, though they might not tell all the truth; yea, that they made a glorious confession of their faith in God, and plainly told the king, that it was nothing but the immediate hand of God that the Hebrew women were so lively and strong, and therefore were resolved not to oppose it, let him command what he would; so Dr. Lightfoot f42, who takes the midwives to be Egyptians: and the people multiplied, and waxed very mighty; became very numerous, and strong, and robust, being the…”

“God dealt well with the midwives--This represents God as rewarding them for telling a lie. This difficulty is wholly removed by a more correct translation. To "make" or "build up a house" in Hebrew idiom, means to have a numerous progeny. The passage then should be rendered thus: "God protected the midwives, and the people waxed very mighty; and because the midwives feared, the Hebrews grew and prospered." Next: Exodus Chapter 2”

“Therefore God dealt well with them - That is, built them up in families, and blessed their children. Next: Exodus Chapter 2”

“1:20-21 he gave them families: For most of history, children have had the worthy goal of growing up to raise a family. God graciously granted the universal wish of these women who served him courageously and faithfully.”

“God: Psa 41:1, Psa 41:2, Psa 61:5, Psa 85:9, Psa 103:11, Psa 111:5, Psa 145:19; Pro 11:18, Pro 19:17; Ecc 8:12; Isa 3:10; Mat 10:42, Mat 25:40; Luk 1:50; Heb 6:10 the people: Exo 1:7, Exo 1:12 Exodus 1:21”

“God rewarded them for their conduct, and "made them houses," i.e., gave them families and preserved their posterity. In this sense to "make a house" in Sa2 7:11 is interchanged with to "build a house" in Sa2 7:27 (vid., Rut 4:11). להם for להן as in Gen 31:9, etc. Through not carrying out the ruthless command of the king, they had helped to build up the families of Israel, and their own families were therefore built up by God. Thus God rewarded them, "not, however, because they lied, but because they were merciful to the people of God; it was not their falsehood therefore that was rewarded, but their kindness (more correctly, their fear of God), their benignity of mind, not the wickedness of…”