They imposed upon them taskmasters in order to afflict them with their burdens, and they built storage cities for Pharaoh, Pitom and Raamses (Exodus 1:11). “They imposed upon him [alav],”22Although the verse is generally translated “they imposed upon them taskmasters in order to afflict them with their burdens,” the object of the sentence is actually written in singular, such that a more literal translation is “they imposed upon it/him taskmasters to afflict it/him with their burdens.” – “upon them [aleihem]” is not stated, but rather “upon him.”
The school of Rabbi Elazar son of Rabbi Shimon taught: It teaches that they brought a brick mold and they hung it on the neck of Pharaoh. If any individual from Israel would say: ‘I am a delicate person,’ they would say to him: ‘Are you more delicate than Pharaoh?’ “Taskmasters [sarei missim],” something upon which bricks are placed [mesim].“In order to afflict him with their burdens” – in order to afflict Pharaoh with the burdens of the Jewish people.23The brick mold was placed around Pharaoh’s neck in order to make it seem that he too was participating in the building efforts, so that the Israelites would willingly agree to begin working.
“They built storage cities [miskenot] for Pharaoh.” Rav and Shmuel, one said: That endanger [mesakenot] their owners. And one said: That impoverish [memaskenot] their owners, as anyone who engages in construction become poor. The Rabbis say: Storehouses, as it says: “Go and approach that steward” (Isaiah 22:15).24The reference is to Shevna in whose hands the keys to the storehouses were entrusted.
See Isaiah 22:22. “Pitom and Raamses,” Rav and Shmuel, one says: Pitom was its name, and why was it called Raamses? It is because [the buildings] would collapse [mitrossess] one by one. And one says: Raamses was its name, and why was it called Pitom? It is because the opening of the abyss [pi tehom] would swallow [the buildings] one by one.