As the chapter progresses, Pharaoh’s attacks intensify and become more brazen. He begins with a shrewd attempt to control population. When that fails, he instructs the midwives to secretly kill Israelite boys. And when that does not work, he finally commands the open killing of Israelite children.
22 Then Pharaoh commanded all his people, “Every son that is born to the Hebrews you shall cast into the Nile, but you shall let every daughter live.”