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He said to his people, Behold, the Israelites are too many and too mighty for us [and they [a]outnumber us both in people and in strength].

10 Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply more and, should war befall us, they join our enemies, fight against us, and escape out of the land.

11 So they set over [the Israelites] taskmasters to afflict and oppress them with [increased] burdens. And [the Israelites] built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh.

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Footnotes

  1. Exodus 1:9 Is there in all human history a more amazing spectacle than the exodus? A family of 70 immigrants grows into a people of slavery. Suddenly, according to God’s detailed and preannounced plan, they are seen flinging away the shackles of generations of slavery and emigrating to a new country and a new life, with miraculous deliverances rescuing them from destruction again and again. The marvel of the exodus grows in wonder when, after more than 3,000 years, we see that same race, often persecuted almost to extinction, carrying out in startling detail God’s predictions for their amazing national revitalization and prominence “in the last days” (adapted from many historians).

“Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become far too numerous(A) for us.(B) 10 Come, we must deal shrewdly(C) with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.”(D)

11 So they put slave masters(E) over them to oppress them with forced labor,(F) and they built Pithom and Rameses(G) as store cities(H) for Pharaoh.

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