After his failed attempt to use the midwives, Pharaoh makes an open attack on the Israelite boys. He now gives a command to all his people, rather than to just two midwives, telling them to throw every Israelite boy into the Nile. The river whose fresh water brought life to Egypt was to bring death to the Israelites.
22 Alors Pharaon donna cet ordre à tout son peuple: Vous jetterez dans le fleuve tout garçon qui naîtra, et vous laisserez vivre toutes les filles.