b'The king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, one of whom was named Shifra and the other Puah, saying, When you deliver the Hebrew women, look at the birthstool: if it is a boy, kill him; if it is a girl, let her live. But the midwives revered God, and did not do as the king of Egypt had told themthey let the boys live. So the king of Egypt summoned the midwives and said to them, Why have you done this, letting the boys live? The midwives said to Pharaoh, Because the Hebrew women are not like Egyptian womenthey are like animals! Before the midwife can even get to them, they have already given birth! So God was good to the midwives, while the people multiplied and increased greatly. And because the midwives revered God, God established households for them. But then Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every boy that is born you shall throw into the Nile,but you can let every girl live.Exodus 1:15-22In The Voice Of The Midwives, Shifra And PuahREADER:Yocheved, we know you are afraid. What are you afraid of?READER:I cant bear to think of it. It is too awful to say. I cant tell you.READER:We are your midwives. We are bound by honor to protect you and to keep your secrets. Tell us. What do you fear?READER:I fear this child is a boy, and I know, I know about this horrible decree! I know what Pharaoh has told you to do. If he is a boy, and if I allow him to be born, you will put him to death with his first breath. As long as he is within me he is safe. As soon as he is born, you will put him to death. I know you have received your orders.READER:The decree? That nonsense? Pharaoh Schmeroah! Dont worry. We will take care of that. Do you really think you cannot trust us? When your grandmothers pains came upon her, the midwife went to her. She caught your mother with her own hands. I was her assistant. I was there when your mother was born and when her time was near, she sat on Shifra knees and pushed your tiny, fresh body into my hands. With a reed I suctioned your tiny little nose, and when you took your first breath, ours were the ears that heard you cry. I handed your wet body to Shifra, and she placed you on your mothers breasts. READER: Then we stayed with your mother until her milk began to flow, watching you suckle your first meal.And you must remember when we held you in your own time of travail, you moaned and cried and used all your strength to push your dear Miriam out of your womb and into my hands. How could you think that we will ever let harm come to you, or to your baby? Now drink these herbs, and talk to your baby. It is time. Fear not. We are here.17'