But you are the people he rescued from Egypt, that blazing furnace. He brought you out to make you his own people, as you are today.

So the Egyptians put slave drivers over them to crush their spirits with hard labor. The Israelites built the cities of Pithom and Rameses to serve as supply centers for the king.

(SEE 1:13)

"When you help the Hebrew women give birth," he said to them, "kill the baby if it is a boy; but if it is a girl, let it live."

Finally the king issued a command to all his people: "Take every newborn Hebrew boy and throw him into the Nile, but let all the girls live."

Make them work harder and keep them busy, so that they won't have time to listen to a pack of lies."

The foremen realized that they were in trouble when they were told that they had to make the same number of bricks every day as they had made before.

Ever since I went to the king to speak for you, he has treated them cruelly. And you have done nothing to help them!"