How Pharaoh Mocked the Israelites and Pithom Swallowed Their Bricks

Midrash Aggadah, Exodus 1:11

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"And they set over him taskmasters" (Exodus 1:11). It should have said "over them." Rather, this teaches that they brought a brick and hung it upon Pharaoh's neck; and to every single Israelite who said to them, "I am delicate," they said to him, "Are you any more delicate than Pharaoh?" "Taskmasters" — that they set upon them a quota of bricks. "To afflict him" — whom? Pharaoh. "With their burdens" — whose? Israel's. "And he built store-cities for Pharaoh" — that they impoverish their owners. "Pithom" — they dug down so far until the deep rose up, and they would set the bricks in place and the deep would swallow them; therefore it was called Pithom. Do not read it "Pithom" but rather "the mouth of the deep." "Raamses" — that Israel were crushed beneath the building.

Themes

EgyptMosesWisdomJonahKings

Biblical References

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