Exodus 1:5–14

⁵All the descendants of Jacob were ^bseventy persons; Joseph was already in Egypt. ⁶Then ^cJoseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation. ^7dBut the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them.

Pharaoh Oppresses Israel

⁸Now there arose a new king over Egypt, ^ewho did not know Joseph. ⁹And he said to his people, “Behold, ^fthe people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us. ^10gCome, ^hlet us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land.” ¹¹Therefore they set taskmasters over them ⁱto afflict them with heavy ^jburdens. They built for Pharaoh ^kstore cities, Pithom and ^lRaamses. ¹²But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And the Egyptians were in dread of the people of Israel. ¹³So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel ^mwork as slaves ¹⁴and ⁿmade their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they ruthlessly made them work as slaves.