Parshat Shemot: Who were the midwives?

The vast majority of commentators accept that the midwives, Shifra and Puah, are alternative names for Moshe’s mother and sister, Yocheved and Miriam. However, there remains the question of why there are only two midwives for the entire Hebrew population. Answers to this problem include:

• Shifra and Puah were official representatives in charge of all the Hebrew midwives. (Hizkuni, Ibn Ezra)
• Shifra and Puah were the midwives in the Egyptian capital. After Pharaoh saw that he was unable to implement his plan in the capital, he did not attempt to carry it out nationwide. (Sforno)

For more on parshat Shemot, see Haggadah Berurah, the Haggadah that helps you tell the story of yetziat mitzrayim.