What did the midwives mean when they told Pharaoh that the Ivriyos were "Chayos"?
Rashi #1 and Targum Yonasan: They simply meant that the Jewish women were agile; and by the time they arrived, the babies were already born. 1
Rashi #2: They meant that the Bnei Yisrael were compared to Chayos, 2 who do not need midwives. 3
Seforno: They are themselves experts in midwifery, in which case they will know the moment we do something untoward, and will never call us again.
How did that justify sustaining the babies?
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes: "'Ki Chayos Henah' - ... But Chazal interpret, they are compared to the beasts of the field...." Why do Chazal depart from the literal meaning (i.e. that they are skilled as midwives)?
Gur Aryeh: Even if a woman giving birth is herself a skilled midwife, does she not require another midwife to assist her?!
Rashi writes: "... They are compared to the beasts of the field...."What does this mean conceptually?
Maharal (Gevuros Hashem Ch. 15, p. 74): Animals move more swiftly than man; this is due to their light Chomer (material composition). 1 Am Yisrael also is only slightly material (for they are primarily spiritual). Thus, the Jewish women give birth quickly; unencumbered by the dense material aspect (Chomer).
Maharal frequently uses the terminology 'Chomer' and 'Tzurah'; refer to 1:1:2.9:1*, and 1:1:2.8:1*. He explains that Chomer is what causes sluggishness. Compare to Mesilas Yesharim (Ch. 6) - A person's nature is to be slow; dense earthly physicality is what holds us back from the trait of Zerizus. (EK)
