Exodus 1:1-9

1These are the names of the sons of Israel who went to Egypt with Jacob, each with his family:

2Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah;

3Issachar, Zebulun and Benjamin;

4Dan and Naphtali; Gad and Asher.

5The descendants of Jacob numbered seventy in all; Joseph was already in Egypt.

6Now Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died,

7but the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became so numerous that the land was filled with them.

8Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt.

9“Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become far too numerous for us.