What favor did Hashem do for Shifrah and Pu'ah?
Da'as Zekenim and Rosh: The people began to proliferate to such an extent, that Pharaoh, who initially accused them of lying, had to believe them when they claimed that their services were not required. 2 If not, two midwives would not have sufficed for so many people!
Da'as Zekenim and Rosh: But the houses are not mentioned until the next Pasuk? Gur Aryeh - Surely the dynasties (of Kehunah, Leviyah, etc.) were also part of the good that Hashem bestowed. The next verse (1:21) must be coming to explain this verse.
Oznayim la'Torah: Also, based on the principle (in Avos 4:2) 'Sechar Mitzvah, Mitzvah,' anyone who is Moser Nefesh for a Mitzvah meets with success in that Mitzvah over and above the norm. Consequently, Shifrah and Pu'ah, who were Moser Nefesh in ensuring that the babies lived, were able to rejoice when they saw the supernatural results of their efforts.
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes: "This difference appears in words with a two-letter root... such as 'va'Yeitev' (in this verse), 'va'Yerev' ... And do not ask against [my approach] from [the verbs] 'va'Yeilech, va'Yeishev... for those [verbs] have a different form...." How are those words different, according to Rashi?
Gur Aryeh: Rashi follows the opinion that when one of the letters of a (three-letter) verb root is wont to disappear, the root can be said to have two letters. 1 Rashi equates two common types of roots in this regard - 'Lamed-Hei' 2 and 'Ayin-Vav.' 3 In both cases, we never enunciate all three letters of the root in one verb. Rashi contrasts these with 'Pei-Yud' roots, 4 in which although the first letter is often dropped, at other times it is enunciated.
Refer to Bereishis 49:17:1.1:1*.
I.e., the third letter of the root is a Hei; such as the word 'va'Yerev,' from root Reish-Beis-Hei.
The second letter of the root is a Vav, e.g. 'va'Yeitev,' from root Tes-Vav-Beis.
The first letter of the root is a Yud, e.g. 'va'Yeishev' from root Yud-Shin-Beis. In this case, the Yud might be heard, as in 'Hu Yashav.'
