Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens. They built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The verse highlights that the Egyptians didn't just make the Israelites work harder, but they specifically appointed "taskmasters," which literally means "masters of tribute" or "lords of service," indicating a deliberate system to both drain their wealth and break their spirits through grueling labor and oppression. This wasn't merely about building cities; it was a calculated strategy to afflict and diminish them.
Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens. They built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses.
English Standard Version (ESV)
After a period of peace and prosperity, a new Egyptian king, fearful of the Israelites' growing numbers, decides to oppress them. He implements a policy of forced labor, appointing overseers to burden the people with difficult tasks and compelling them to build fortified storage cities for Pharaoh.
Pharaoh wasn't just being cruel; he had a calculated plan to deal with the growing Israelite population. What was his goal, and how did his 'wisdom' reveal his heart?
The new king of Egypt saw the Israelites as a potential threat. Their sheer numbers worried him, especially the possibility of them siding with enemies during wartime.
A Strategy of Fear
Pharaoh’s advisors proposed a seemingly 'wise' approach (Exodus 1:10) which was really a strategy of fear and control. Their goal was to:
This wasn't just about economic gain; it was about subjugation. The king's 'wisdom' prioritized his own security and power over justice and compassion, revealing a heart blinded by fear and self-interest.
The Israelites weren't just tasked with labor; they were forced to build specific cities. What was the significance of these 'treasure cities' and what does it tell us about their plight?
The building projects mentioned – Pithom and Raamses – were not simply random construction. They served Pharaoh’s strategic and economic interests.
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Fortifications and Resources
The term 'treasure cities' (or 'store cities') likely referred to strongholds where Egypt could store:
These cities were strategically located, possibly on the northeastern frontier, acting as a buffer and control point. For the Israelites, this meant their forced labor directly contributed to the very system designed to keep them oppressed and confined. Their efforts strengthened the empire that enslaved them.
Understand the original words
sar massim · Hebrew Noun phrase
An official or supervisor appointed to oversee laborers, often associated with forced labor or oppression in a biblical context.
anah · Hebrew Verb
To cause pain, distress, or suffering; in the context of the exodus, it refers to the systematic mistreatment of the Israelites by the Egyptian state.
Paroh · Hebrew Noun
A title for the rulers of ancient Egypt, used throughout the Pentateuch to represent the secular power that often stands in opposition to God and His people.
This verse emerges from a context of geopolitical fear and shifting Egyptian policy. The Israelites' prosperity, once a sign of God's blessing and favor, becomes a perceived threat, leading to state-sponsored oppression and forced labor.
c. 1550 BC
New Kingdom begins in Egypt
This period marks a resurgence of Egyptian power and influence, characterized by expansionist policies and a strong central government, setting the stage for their interactions with foreign peoples like the Israelites.
c. 1500-1400 BC
Israelites settle and prosper in Goshen
Following Joseph's rise to power, the Israelites are granted fertile land in Goshen, where they multiply and prosper for generations, largely unmolested.
c. 1400 BC
New Pharaoh forgets Joseph's service
A new ruler ascends the throne, ignorant of or indifferent to the past service Joseph rendered to Egypt, marking a shift in policy towards the Israelites.
c. 1400 BC— this verse
Fear of Israelite growth leads to oppression
The new Egyptian leadership, fearing the Israelites' rapid multiplication and potential for alliance with enemies, decides to oppress them through forced labor and harsh rule.
c. 1400 BC
Forced labor and city construction
The Israelites are forced into grueling labor, building 'store cities' like Pithom and Raamses, intended to secure Egypt's resources and control.
This passage shows Joseph's rise to power in Egypt, which initially provided a period of peace for his family. The shift in Exodus 1 marks a stark contrast, highlighting how even good deeds can be forgotten and lead to new forms of oppression.
Deuteronomy 26:6-8This passage is a retrospective look by the Israelites on their time in Egypt, recounting how they grew numerous and how the Egyptians treated them harshly, forcing them to work and oppressing them, mirroring the events described in Exodus 1:11.
Nehemiah 9:9-11This prayer recounts God's deliverance of Israel from Egypt, explicitly mentioning God seeing their suffering and hearing their cries, connecting directly to the context of the oppression described in Exodus 1:11.
Acts 7:17-19Stephen's speech in Acts retells the story of Israel's oppression in Egypt, emphasizing that a 'new king' arose who dealt 'craftily' and imposed harsh labor on their ancestors, directly paralleling the narrative in Exodus 1:11.
Isaiah 14:13-14While referring to the king of Babylon, this passage captures a spirit of arrogant ambition and a desire to exalt oneself, which can be seen echoed in the oppressive actions of Pharaoh who sought to subjugate and control the Israelites for his own perceived glory and security.
calvinExodus 1:8-11: "Now there arose up a new king over Egypt, which knew not Joseph."
Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and right against us, and so get them up out of the land.
Agedum, prudenter nos geramus erga illum, ne multiplicetur; ne accidat, si obvenerit bellum, jungatur ipse quoque hostibus nostris, et pugnet contra nos, ascendatque e terra.
Therefore they did…
gillExodus 1:11: "Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses."
Therefore they did set taskmasters over them, to afflict them with their burdens,.... This was the first scheme proposed and agreed on, and was carried into execution, to appoint taskmasters over them; or "princes", or "masters of tribute" (r), commissioners of taxes, who had power to lay heavy taxes upon them, and oblige them to pay the…
The verse highlights that the Egyptians didn't just make the Israelites work harder, but they specifically appointed "taskmasters," which literally means "masters of tribute" or "lords of service," indicating a deliberate system to both drain their wealth and break their spirits through grueling labor and oppression. This wasn't merely about building cities; it was a calculated strategy to afflict and diminish them.
After a period of peace and prosperity, a new Egyptian king, fearful of the Israelites' growing numbers, decides to oppress them. He implements a policy of forced labor, appointing overseers to burden the people with difficult tasks and compelling them to build fortified storage cities for Pharaoh.
After a period of peace and prosperity, a new Egyptian king, fearful of the Israelites' growing numbers, decides to oppress them. He implements a policy of forced labor, appointing overseers to burden the people with difficult tasks and compelling them to build fortified storage cities for Pharaoh.
"Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with heavy burdens. They built for Pharaoh store cities, Pithom and Raamses." — The verse highlights that the Egyptians didn't just make the Israelites work harder, but they specifically appointed "taskmasters," which literally means "masters of tribute" or "lords of service," i…
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Last reviewed October 2026