Acts 7:19

The same dealt subtilty - Οὑτος κατασοφισαμενος , A word borrowed from the Septuagint, who thus translate the Hebrew לו נהחכמה nithchokmah lo , let us deal wisely with it, i.e. with cunning and deceit, as the Greek word implies; and which is evidently intended by the Hebrew. See Genesis 27:35 , Thy brother came with subtilty, which the Targumist explains by בחוכמא be - chokma , with wisdom, that is, cunning and deceit. For this the Egyptians were so remarkable that αιγυπτιαζειν , to Egyptize, signified to act cunningly, and to use wicked devices. Hence the Jews compared them to foxes; and it is of them that Canticles, Song of Solomon 2:15 , is understood by the rabbins: Take us the little foxes which spoil our vines; destroy the Egyptians, who, having slain our male children, sought to destroy the name of Israel from the face of the earth.

To the end they might not live - Might not grow up and propagate, and thus build up the Hebrew nation.