KJV ORIGINAL
Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
So the Egyptians appointed harsh supervisors over the Israelites to oppress them with heavy forced labor. The Israelites were made to build storage cities for Pharaoh called Pithom and Rameses.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
The Egyptians enslaved the Israelites and forced them to build cities under cruel supervision.
📚 Historical Context
This verse describes the beginning of Israel's harsh slavery in Egypt, which occurred several generations after Joseph had saved Egypt from famine. The Pharaoh who 'knew not Joseph' (Exodus 1:8) had turned the once-honored Israelites into forced laborers. Archaeological evidence suggests these storage cities were built to store grain and supplies for Egypt's military campaigns.
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