Verses 13 and 14 end with the same word, perek, meaning “harshness, violent severity, ruthless brutality.” The children of Israel, for all their multiplication under the supposed blessing and promise of God (vv. 7, 12), were suffering unbearably. It could not get any worse. Except that it did (see Exod 5). One other feature of verses 13 and 14, however, is significant even though it is not easily noticed in English translations. English style likes to avoid