Exodus 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.
Original Language Analysis
וַיָּשִׂ֤ימוּ
Therefore they did set
H7760
וַיָּשִׂ֤ימוּ
Therefore they did set
Strong's:
H7760
Word #:
1 of 15
to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically)
עָלָיו֙
H5921
עָלָיו֙
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
2 of 15
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
מִסִּ֔ים
over them taskmasters
H4522
מִסִּ֔ים
over them taskmasters
Strong's:
H4522
Word #:
4 of 15
properly, a burden (as causing to faint), i.e., a tax in the form of forced labor
לְמַ֥עַן
H4616
לְמַ֥עַן
Strong's:
H4616
Word #:
5 of 15
properly, heed, i.e., purpose; used only adverbially, on account of (as a motive or an aim), teleologically, in order that
עַנֹּת֖וֹ
to afflict
H6031
עַנֹּת֖וֹ
to afflict
Strong's:
H6031
Word #:
6 of 15
to depress literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive (in various applications, as follows)
עָרֵ֤י
cities
H5892
עָרֵ֤י
cities
Strong's:
H5892
Word #:
9 of 15
a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
12 of 15
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
Cross References
Genesis 15:13And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not their's, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years;Genesis 47:11And Joseph placed his father and his brethren, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded.Exodus 3:7And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;Exodus 2:11And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren.Psalms 81:6I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots.Deuteronomy 26:6And the Egyptians evil entreated us, and afflicted us, and laid upon us hard bondage:Numbers 20:15How our fathers went down into Egypt, and we have dwelt in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians vexed us, and our fathers:
Historical Context
Pithom (Hebrew פִּתֹם, Egyptian Per-Atum, "House of Atum") and Raamses (רַעַמְסֵס, Egyptian Pi-Ramesses, "House of Ramesses") were Delta store cities. If Ramesses II (1279-1213 BC) was the pharaoh, these building projects date to the 19th Dynasty. Brick-making using straw (5:7-8) matches Egyptian construction methods documented in tomb paintings.
Questions for Reflection
- How do you maintain faith when your labor seems to serve ungodly purposes or oppressive systems?
- What does God's fulfillment of the Genesis 15:13 prophecy teach about His sovereign control of history?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens (שָׂרֵי מִסִּים לְמַעַן עַנֹּתוֹ בְּסִבְלֹתָם, sarei missim lema'an anoto besivlotam)—Taskmasters (שָׂרֵי מִסִּים, sarei missim, "forced labor officials") implemented slave labor. Afflict (עָנָה, anah) is the same verb used in Genesis 15:13's prophecy of Israel's affliction. They built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses—archaeological sites possibly identified with Tell el-Retabah and Qantir/Pi-Ramesses. These store cities for military supplies show Israel's labor served Pharaoh's imperial ambitions. Yet affliction became the crucible for Israel's national identity and cry to God (2:23-25).