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Oppression by a New King
…12But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and flourished; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites.13They workedthe Israelitesruthlessly14and made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar, and with all kinds of work in the fields. Every service they imposed was harsh.…

Treasury of Scripture

And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigor:

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CauseChildrenCompelledEgyptiansHarderHarshnessIsraelLaborRigorRigorouslyRigourRuthlesslyServeWorkWorkedCauseChildrenCompelledEgyptiansHarderHarshnessIsraelLaborRigorRigorouslyRigourRuthlesslyServeWorkWorked1.The children of Israel, after Joseph's death, increase.
8.The more they are oppressed by a new king, the more they multiply.
15.The godliness of the midwives in saving the male children alive.
22.Pharaoh commands the male children to be cast into the river

They worked the Israelites ruthlessly
The phrase "They worked the Israelites ruthlessly" refers to the oppressive labor imposed on the Israelites by the Egyptians. This period marks the beginning of Israel's enslavement in Egypt, a significant event in biblical history. The Egyptians, fearing the growing population of the Israelites, sought to suppress them through harsh labor. This oppression fulfills the prophecy given to Abraham inGenesis 15:13, where God foretold that his descendants would be strangers in a land not their own and would be enslaved and mistreated for 400 years.

The term "ruthlessly" indicates the severity and cruelty of the Egyptians' treatment. This harshness is further described inExodus 1:14, where the Israelites are forced to perform backbreaking labor in brick and mortar and all kinds of fieldwork. The Egyptians' intent was to break the spirit of the Israelites and control their population growth, as seen in Pharaoh's earlier decree to kill all newborn Hebrew boys (Exodus 1:16).

Culturally, this period of enslavement is significant as it sets the stage for the eventual deliverance of the Israelites, a central theme in the book of Exodus. The harsh treatment of the Israelites contrasts with God's promise of deliverance and blessing, highlighting the tension between human oppression and divine salvation.

Theologically, this oppression can be seen as a type of the bondage of sin, from which Christ delivers believers. Just as God raised Moses to lead the Israelites out of physical slavery, Jesus Christ is seen as the ultimate deliverer who frees humanity from spiritual slavery. This connection is reinforced in the New Testament, where Jesus is often portrayed as the new Moses, leading His people to spiritual freedom.

In summary, this phrase encapsulates the beginning of a pivotal period in Israel's history, characterized by severe oppression that ultimately leads to their deliverance and the fulfillment of God's promises.1.Pharaoh
The ruler of Egypt who enslaved the Israelites, fearing their growing numbers and potential power.

2.Israelites
The descendants of Jacob (Israel) who were living in Egypt and subjected to harsh slavery.

3.Egypt
The land where the Israelites were enslaved, representing a place of oppression and bondage.

4.Taskmasters
Egyptian overseers appointed by Pharaoh to enforce the harsh labor on the Israelites.

5.Moses
Though not directly mentioned in this verse, he is a central figure in the Exodus account, eventually leading the Israelites out of Egypt.Understanding Oppression
Recognize that oppression and suffering are not outside of God's knowledge or plan. He is aware and has a purpose even in difficult circumstances.

God's Faithfulness
Trust in God's promises. Just as He foretold the Israelites' enslavement and eventual deliverance, He is faithful to His word.

Cry Out to God
In times of distress, follow the example of the Israelites by crying out to God, knowing that He hears and responds to the cries of His people.

Spiritual Bondage
Reflect on the spiritual bondage of sin and how God offers deliverance through Jesus Christ, paralleling the physical deliverance of the Israelites.

Perseverance in Trials
Learn to persevere through trials, understanding that God can use them to strengthen faith and character.1.What is the meaning of Exodus 1:13?

2.How does Exodus 1:13 illustrate the Israelites' harsh treatment by the Egyptians?

3.What can we learn about perseverance from the Israelites' experience in Exodus 1:13?

4.How does Exodus 1:13 connect to God's promise of deliverance in Exodus 3?

5.In what ways can we trust God during our own times of oppression?

6.How can we support those facing unjust treatment, as seen in Exodus 1:13?

7.How does Exodus 1:13 reflect the historical context of Israelite slavery in Egypt?

8.What archaeological evidence supports the events described in Exodus 1:13?

9.How does Exodus 1:13 align with God's promise to Abraham?

10.What are the top 10 Lessons from Exodus 1?

11.What does the Bible say about trials and tribulations?

12.What is the summary of the Exodus from Egypt?

13.Exodus 1 in general – How do we reconcile the apparent lack of extra-biblical evidence or records that confirm both the massive presence of Hebrews and the oppression described?

14.In Numbers 14:2, how plausible is it that a whole nation would suddenly wish to return to Egypt after seeing so many miraculous events?They

• “They” points to the Egyptians, especially Pharaoh’s appointed taskmasters (Exodus 1:11, “they set taskmasters over them”).

• Scripture presents real historical actors: a literal Pharaoh and his officers who chose to oppose God’s people (Romans 9:17).

• Behind the human agents stood a spiritual adversary intent on thwarting God’s covenant promises (Revelation 12:4).

• Note how often God later says “I have seen what the Egyptians are doing to you” (Exodus 3:9). He never loses track of who “they” are.

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worked

• The verb describes constant, organized labor—forced construction, heavy field work, and brick making (Exodus 5:7–9, “Make the work harder for the men”).

• God had foretold this inGenesis 15:13, “your descendants will be enslaved and oppressed.” What Pharaoh thought up suddenly was already under the Lord’s sovereign oversight.

• Oppressive work served Pharaoh’s policy of population control, but it also forged Israel’s national identity; the furnace of affliction would make them long for redemption (Deuteronomy 4:20).

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the Israelites

• These are the literal descendants of Jacob, the covenant family who entered Egypt as honored guests (Genesis 47:6) and became a vast nation (Exodus 1:7).

• Their suffering did not cancel God’s promises to Abraham (Exodus 2:24). Every blow of the whip became another reminder that the Lord’s word must stand, because only He could deliver them.

• The passage also foreshadows believers’ experience today: chosen yet sometimes oppressed (John 15:18–19).

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ruthlessly

• The adverb piles on intensity. Pharaoh’s policy was not merely hard; it was “ruthless,” stripping away dignity (Exodus 1:14, “made their lives bitter with harsh labor”).

• Such cruelty reveals the true nature of rebellion against God—merciless, dehumanizing (Proverbs 12:10).

• God heard every groan (Exodus 2:23–25) and would answer with equally decisive judgments—ten plagues that reversed the oppressor-oppressed dynamic (Exodus 6:6).

• The word also warns believers: power apart from God’s compassion turns brutal; seek to lead with mercy (Colossians 4:1).

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summary

Exodus 1:13 records a grim but literal fact: Egyptian taskmasters relentlessly forced God’s covenant people into back-breaking labor. “They” (the Egyptians) “worked” (imposed continual forced labor on) “the Israelites” (God’s chosen nation) “ruthlessly” (with calculated, merciless intensity). The verse highlights human sin, fulfills God’s earlier prophecy, underscores His faithful awareness of His people’s plight, and sets the stage for the mighty deliverance He alone could provide.

(13)With rigour.--Forced labour in Egypt was of a very severe character. Those condemned to it worked from morning to night under the rod of a task-master, which was freely applied to their legs or backs, if they rested their weary limbs for a moment. (SeeRecords of the Past,vol. viii. p. 149; Chabas,Melanges Egyptolo-giques,vol. ii. p. 121). The heat of the sun was great; the burthens which the labourers had to carry were heavy, and the toil was incessant. Death often resulted from the, excessive work. According to Herodotus, a single monarch, Neco, destroyed in this way 120,000 of his subjects (Herod, ii. 158).

Verse 13. -The Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigour. The word translated rigour is a very rare one. It is derived from a root which means "to break in pieces, to crush." The "rigour" would be shown especially in the free use of the stick by the taskmaster, and in the prolongation of the hours of work.

Parallel Commentaries ...


They worked
וַיַּעֲבִ֧דוּ(way·ya·‘ă·ḇi·ḏū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 5647:To work, to serve, till, enslave

the Israelites
בְּנֵ֥י(bə·nê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121:A son

ruthlessly
בְּפָֽרֶךְ׃(bə·p̄ā·reḵ)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6531:Harshness, severity


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OT Law: Exodus 1:13 The Egyptians ruthlessly made the children (Exo. Ex)