Midwives, Mothers, and Mutineers: The Women Who Outplayed Pharaoh

In the darkness of Egyptian slavery, when hope seemed lost and the future of the Jewish people hung by a thread, it was the women who refused to surrender to despair. As the Talmud teaches: “Rav Avira taught: In the merit of the righteous women that were in that generation, the Jewish people were redeemed from Egypt” (Sotah 11b).

As we enter the month of Nisan, the season of liberation, this ancient teaching calls us to consider what exactly the merit of the righteous women in Egypt was — and invites us to consider how such merit might shape the redemptions yet to come.

Pharaoh’s cruel decrees were designed to crush the spirit of the Hebrew slaves and extinguish their future. Yet where the mighty tyrant plotted destruction, the women of Israel planted seeds of redemption.

When exhausted husbands withdrew in despair, believing it better not to bring children into a world of suffering, it was the women who rekindled hope. The sages tell us they would meet their husbands in the fields, renewing intimacy despite the crushing burden of slavery. For them, continuity itself was an act of resistance.

Another form of defiance came through the hands of the midwives. When Pharaoh commanded Shiphrah and Puah to kill every newborn Hebrew boy, they faced an impossible choice: obey the most powerful ruler in the world or follow their conscience and God’s law. The Torah tells us:

When questioned, they responded with cleverness and courage, explaining that the Hebrew women gave birth before they could arrive.

This act of civil disobedience — perhaps the first recorded in history — showed that moral courage can overcome even the most formidable power. These righteous women understood that the authority of the King of Kings supersedes any human decree.

The courage of women was seen in other examples as well. When Pharaoh decreed that all male infants be cast into the Nile, Amram, a leader of the people, separated from his wife Jochebed in despair. But his young daughter Miriam, wise beyond her years, challenged him: “Your decree is more severe than Pharaoh’s. His affects only the boys; yours affects all children.” Moved by her insight, Amram reunited with Jochebed. Soon after, Moses was born.

Jochebed hid Moses for three months, but when concealment became impossible, she placed him in a carefully prepared basket among the reeds. Miriam stood watch nearby, guarding her baby brother’s fate with quiet determination.

Through divine providence, Pharaoh’s daughter discovered the child and took him as her own. Miriam, quick-thinking and bold, stepped forward and arranged for Jochebed to become his nurse. Thus, the future redeemer of Israel was raised with knowledge of his heritage, nurtured in both body and spirit for his divine mission.

Years later, after the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea, the women again took center stage. While Moses led the people in song, the Torah highlights a striking moment:

According to the sages, the women had brought these instruments with them from Egypt, confident that God would perform miracles. While the men were uncertain, the women packed for the celebration they knew was coming. Their faith was not abstract or theoretical—it was living and active, expressed in tangible preparation.

As we enter Nisan, the month of redemption, we are reminded that the patterns of history continue to unfold. The sages taught that the redemption from Egypt came through the merit of righteous women. Later rabbinic voices expanded this idea, teaching that just as women played a central role in the first redemption, so too will they in the final one.

What does that mean for us today?

The women of Egypt teach us that redemption begins with refusing to accept spiritual darkness as final. It means maintaining hope when despair seems logical, summoning moral courage in the face of injustice, and watching over the vulnerable with steadfast love. It means living with such trust in God’s promises that we begin preparing for deliverance before it arrives.

As we stand at the threshold of Nisan, let us call upon women to embrace this spiritual legacy: to engage deeply in the study of redemption, to demand it earnestly in prayer, and to prepare for it actively through deeds. For as our tradition assures us, the God who redeemed us once through the merit of righteous women will surely do so again.

In a world that often seems to grow darker, may we hold fast to the words of the prophet Micah: “Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light” (Micah 7:8). The women of Egypt understood this profound truth. Now it is our turn to kindle that light once more.

If the merit of righteous women once brought about our redemption, we must ask: what actions will earn that merit today? What hope will we refuse to relinquish? What injustice will we dare to confront?

Now is the time to step forward, as they did.

If you are a Jewish woman — or someone who draws strength from their legacy — take part in shaping the Jewish future. If you are an American Jew, your vote in the World Zionist Congress elections can help determine how vital resources are allocated to support Israel and global Jewish life. This is one tangible way to stand up, to show up, and to say: I am preparing for redemption. Vote Israel365 Action Today!

If you are a Christian ally, you too can be part of this moment. By joining efforts like Ten from the Nations, you support your Jewish brothers and sisters as they embrace their divine calling.

The women of Egypt did not wait passively for miracles — they made room for them, prepared for them, acted as if they were coming. Now it is our turn.

Stand with Israel. Stand with the Jewish people. Prepare for redemption — and be part of it.