Exodus 1

After Joseph and his generation died, the Israelites became extremely numerous and filled the land of Egypt. A new Pharaoh, who did not know Joseph, rose to power and, fearing their growing strength, enslaved the Hebrews with harsh forced labor to build cities for Egypt. When this failed to slow their growth, Pharaoh ordered the Hebrew midwives to kill newborn boys, but the midwives feared God and disobeyed, prompting Pharaoh to command that every Hebrew baby boy be thrown into the Nile River.