The story of Pharaoh and the midwives continues the folk-tale style with the Egyptian king himself instructing the women. The writer underplays the circumstances surrounding the command by omitting both the elements of threat or the response of the midwives to a scheme which was to require action diametrically opposed to their office as bearer of life. Rather, the author offers the real reason which was to thwart the plan. It was not because they boldly defied the king, nor because of their loyalty
Page 17