⁹ He told his people, “Look, the Israeli people are more numerous and more powerful than we are. ¹⁰ Come on, let’s be careful how we treat them, so that when they grow numerous, if a war breaks out they won’t join our enemies, fight against us, and leave our land.” ¹¹ So the Egyptians^[a] placed supervisors over them, oppressing them with heavy burdens. The Israelis^[b] built the supply cities of Pithom and Rameses for Pharaoh.