출애굽기 1:15 해설: Rashi, Ibn Ezra, Rashbam & Sforno

למילדת (the Piel participle) — This is synonymous with מולידות (the Hiphil participle, and both denote the women who assist the mother in bringing the child to birth). But some verbs are used in forms of a light conjugation (i. e. one which has no strong Dagesh as a characteristic) or in forms of a strong conjugation (one that has such a Dagesh), as e. g., שׁוֹבֵר (Kal) and מְשַׁבֵּר (Piel); דּוֹבֵר (Kal) and מְדַבֵּר (Piel). both having the same meaning; similarly here we may have מוליד (the Hiphil — without a strong Dagesh) or מְיַלֵּד (the Piel), both signifying one who helps to bring to birth.

To the midwives. Shifrah and Puah were administrators in charge of all the other midwives, for there were undoubtedly more than five hundred midwives for the entire population. Therefore, it must be that these two were administrators who were responsible for collecting taxes from the midwives’ earnings for Pharaoh; and so have I seen today in many locales. According to the tradition from our Sages they were a mother and daughter, and this is correct.

למילדות העבריות; the ones who were Jewish.