Puah; Puvah
The Courageous Midwife in Exodus
Puah is first introduced in Exodus 1:15-21 as one of two Hebrew midwives (along with Shiphrah) commanded by Pharaoh to kill all male Hebrew infants at birth. Fearing God more than the Egyptian ruler, Puah and Shiphrah subverted this genocidal order, allowing the boys to live. When Pharaoh questioned their disobedience, they cleverly explained that Hebrew women were so vigorous that they gave birth before the midwives could arrive (Exodus 1:19). The biblical text explicitly states that "God was kind to the midwives" and "because the midwives feared God, he gave them families of their own" (Exodus 1:20-21). This act of civil disobedience played a crucial role in preserving the Hebrew people, including Moses, who would later lead the Exodus.
Puah as a Descendant of Issachar
The name Puah (also spelled Puvah or Pua) appears in genealogical lists as part of the tribe of Issachar. In Genesis 46:13, Puah is listed as the second son of Issachar among those who went to Egypt with Jacob. Numbers 26:23 records the descendants of Issachar by their clans, including "the clan of the Punites" descended from Puah. This census, taken by Moses and Eleazar in the wilderness, shows Puah's lineage remained identifiable generations later. First Chronicles 7:1 again lists Puah among Issachar's sons, confirming his established place in tribal genealogy.
Tola's Father in Judges
A third biblical figure named Puah appears in Judges 10:1 as "the son of Dodo" from the tribe of Issachar and the father of Tola. Tola rose to judge Israel for twenty-three years after the time of Abimelech. This Puah represents a later descendant within Issachar, demonstrating the name's continuity within the tribe across centuries of Israel's history.
Interpretations and Traditions
Jewish interpretive traditions, particularly the Midrash (Exodus Rabbah), have identified Puah the midwife with Miriam, the sister of Moses. In this reading, Shiphrah is identified with Jochebed, Miriam's mother. This tradition seeks to connect heroic figures across the narrative. Other traditions suggest Puah was a proselyte, highlighting how non-Israelites could demonstrate faithfulness to God. While these interpretations go beyond the biblical text, they reflect ancient attempts to understand the relationships between key figures in Israel's foundational story.
Significance of the Name
The Hebrew name Puah (פּוּעָה) may derive from a root meaning "to cry out" or "to groan," possibly connecting to the cries of childbirth or the groaning of the Israelites under Egyptian oppression (Exodus 2:23-24). This etymological possibility adds symbolic depth to the midwife's role during a period of suffering and deliverance.
Biblical Context
The name Puah/Puvah appears in three distinct biblical contexts: (1) As one of two Hebrew midwives in Exodus 1:15-21 who defy Pharaoh's decree; (2) As a son of Issachar in genealogical lists (Genesis 46:13, Numbers 26:23, 1 Chronicles 7:1); and (3) As the father of Judge Tola in Judges 10:1. These represent different individuals across Israel's history, with the midwife being the most narratively significant figure. The midwife narrative occurs during Israel's oppression in Egypt, setting the stage for Moses' birth and the Exodus.
Theological Significance
Puah the midwife exemplifies faithful resistance to unjust authority and the priority of fearing God over human rulers. Her story demonstrates that God honors those who protect the vulnerable, even at personal risk. The divine blessing given to the midwives—"he gave them families of their own" (Exodus 1:21)—shows God's faithfulness to those who act righteously. The narrative establishes early in Exodus that God works through ordinary people, including women in marginalized positions, to accomplish salvation history. The preservation of Hebrew boys through the midwives' actions directly enables Moses' survival and the eventual Exodus.
Historical Background
The profession of midwifery in ancient Egypt was respected, with midwives possessing medical knowledge passed through generations. Egyptian texts like the Westcar Papyrus mention midwives attending royal births. Pharaoh's decree reflects ancient practices of population control through infanticide, documented in various cultures. The midwives' explanation about Hebrew women's vigor may reference cultural stereotypes about nomadic peoples being hardier than settled populations. Archaeological evidence confirms Semitic populations lived and worked in Egypt during the Second Millennium BCE, consistent with the biblical setting. The genealogical Puah reflects standard Israelite tribal organization preserved through oral and written traditions.