Yes — the Egyptians imposed harsh labor because Israel had multiplied until Egypt's king feared they were 'more and mightier than we.'
Scripture records that Israel multiplied so rapidly that the land of Egypt was filled with them, and the new king warned, 'Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we' (Exodus 1:7, 1:9). Fearing Israel would join Egypt's enemies in war, he set taskmasters over them to afflict them with burdens (Exodus 1:10-11). Les Feldick adds that Israel had grown from about seventy souls to several million people, and that their forced labor had also become the economic backbone of Egypt.
Exodus 1:9 — The king of Egypt states the direct reason — Israel was 'more and mightier than we.'
Exodus 1:10 — The king reveals his fear that Israel would multiply further and join Egypt's enemies in war.
Exodus 1:11 — The resulting action — taskmasters set over Israel to afflict them with burdens — is the harsh labor of the question.
The children of Israel came into Egypt as seventy souls from the loins of Jacob (Exodus 1:5). But after Joseph's generation passed, Scripture records that 'the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them' (Exodus 1:7). This explosive growth directly set the stage for the oppression. A new king who did not know Joseph warned his people, 'Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we' (Exodus 1:9). He feared that if war fell out, Israel would 'join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land' (Exodus 1:10). Because of that fear, 'they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens,' and the Israelites built the treasure cities Pithom and Raamses for Pharaoh (Exodus 1:11). Egypt's plan did not work. 'The more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew' (Exodus 1:12). The bondage itself grew harsher — Israel's lives were made bitter with hard service, and when Moses later asked Pharaoh to let Israel go, Pharaoh responded by demanding the same quota of bricks while refusing to supply straw (Exodus 5:8-11).
Les Feldick points to Israel's astonishing population growth as the trigger for the oppression. He notes from Exodus 1:5-9 that Israel entered Egypt as about seventy souls and multiplied until the land was filled with them — prompting Egypt's king to say he had to do something drastic, because Israel was 'more and mightier than we.' Using the census in Numbers 26, Les shows the numbered men were 600,730, but he stresses that this was only the select group of fighting-age men; with families included, the population was several million, a group he pictures as something like the entire Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex moving out of Egypt. Les also teaches that the slavery had a powerful economic dimension. The Israelites were the backbone of Egypt's economy — the workers who got all the daily work done — while the Egyptians, in his description, had become an upper-class elite who did nothing but supervise the work. He compares this to the plantation economy of the American South before the Civil War: the owners were uptight about losing slavery because it was the backbone of their economy. Pharaoh's attitude, Les dramatizes, was essentially 'You take those Jews away from me, and I've got nothing.' Economics, he concludes, was as much behind the conflict as anything. Over the 400-plus years in Egypt, Les summarizes, the nation of Israel became a nation of people while in slavery — growing to an estimated three to seven million by the night of the Passover, not counting the mixed multitude that came with them.
Les Feldick takes the reader to the census in Numbers 26, where the numbered children of Israel were 600,730 (Numbers 26:51) — but he points out that this was only the select group of fighting men, not the total population. Counting parents, grandparents, and family members, he says the total was several million, and he pictures the Exodus as something like a Dallas–Fort Worth-sized metroplex moving out of Egypt. From seventy souls at the time of Joseph, Les notes, Israel grew over the 400-plus years of sojourn to an estimated three to seven million people by the night of the Passover — not counting the mixed multitude that came with them (Exodus 1:5; Numbers 26:51).
Beyond the fear of Israel's numbers, Les teaches that Egypt had an economic dependence on Israelite labor. The Israelites were 'the backbone' of Egypt's economy — the workers who got the daily work done — while the Egyptians, in Les's description, had become an upper-class elite who did nothing but supervise the slaves. He compares it to the plantation economy of the American South before the Civil War: the owners were uptight about losing slavery because it was the backbone of their economy. As he dramatizes Pharaoh's thinking, 'You take those Jews away from me, and I've got nothing' — economics was behind the conflict as much as anything.
Scripture shows the oppression was systematic: taskmasters were set over Israel to afflict them with burdens, and Israel built Pharaoh's treasure cities (Exodus 1:11). When Moses and Aaron came asking to go sacrifice, Pharaoh made the burden heavier — he refused to give straw and insisted the quota of production not be diminished (Exodus 5:8-11). Les describes the daily reality on the ground: the taskmasters were cruel, the people worked from sunup to dark, and they received just enough compensation to keep them alive to work again the next day.
No. Scripture explicitly records the opposite: 'the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew' (Exodus 1:12). The Egyptian plan to curb Israel's numbers through hard labor failed. Instead of dwindling, the nation of Israel — as Les puts it — actually became a nation of people while they were in slavery in Egypt.
600,730 Was Only the Select Group
Les explains that the 600,730 numbered in Numbers 26 were only the select group of fighting men, not the total population — which he places at several million, like a Dallas–Fort Worth-sized people group. This huge population explains why Egypt's king considered Israel 'more and mightier' than Egypt.
Israel Multiplied Until the Land Was Filled
Les walks through Exodus 1:5-9, showing Israel went from seventy souls to filling the land of Egypt — leading the king to declare that Israel was 'more and mightier than we' and had to be dealt with drastically.
Israel Was the Backbone of Egypt's Economy
Les teaches that the Jews were the workers who got Egypt's daily work done, and the Egyptian elite did nothing but supervise. He compares it to the pre–Civil War American South, arguing economics was behind the slavery as much as anything.
Withheld Straw, Same Quota
Les quotes Exodus 5:8-11 to show how Pharaoh escalated the harsh labor — withholding straw while demanding the Israelites maintain the same quota of production, making life even more miserable.
Seventy Souls to Several Million
Les shows that in 400-plus years Israel grew from about seventy souls to three to seven million people by the night of Passover, not counting the mixed multitude — the startling growth behind Egypt's fear.
Why God Separated Israel: The Meaning of the Blood on the Doorposts
I said chapter 12, I think, but let's go back for just a moment to chapter 10, because the last time we were together, we had more or less gotten to the place where Pharaoh was obstinately refusing to let the children of Israel go, and God would bring in a plague.
Cruel Taskmasters, Sunup to Dark
Les describes the conditions of Israel's slavery — cruel taskmasters, working from sunup until dark, with just enough compensation to stay alive — to show how harsh the bondage really was.
Moses Asks Why the People Were So Evil-Entreated
Les recounts Exodus 5:22, where Moses cries out that Pharaoh has done evil to the people after being confronted — showing that the oppression worsened before God's deliverance came.
Exodus 1:5: And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already.
Shows the small size of Israel when they entered Egypt — the starting point of the explosive growth.
Exodus 1:7: And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed exceeding mighty; and the land was filled with them.
The explicit record of Israel's population explosion that triggered the Egyptian fear.
Exodus 1:9: And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we:
The king's stated reason for acting against Israel — they were more and mightier than the Egyptians.
Exodus 1:10: Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.
The king's specific fear: in war Israel might join Egypt's enemies and leave the land.
Exodus 1:11: Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses.
The direct action — taskmasters and burdens — that answers the question.
Exodus 1:12: But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel.
The affliction backfired — Israel kept multiplying despite the harsh labor.
Exodus 5:8: And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.
Shows Pharaoh demanding the same quota of bricks even as the burden increased.
Exodus 5:9: Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words.
Pharaoh's response to Moses' request was to add still more work.
Exodus 5:11: Go ye, get you straw where ye can find it: yet not ought of your work shall be diminished.
The Israelites had to gather their own straw while still meeting the same quota.
Exodus 5:22: And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, LORD, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this thy people? why is it that thou hast sent me?
Moses' cry shows how severe the evil treatment of Israel had become.
Numbers 26:51: These were the numbered of the children of Israel, six hundred thousand and a thousand seven hundred and thirty.
The census count Les cites to show the size of the nation — noting it was only the select group of fighting men.
Scripture records that the children of Israel multiplied so abundantly that the land was filled with them. The new king of Egypt told his people, 'the children of Israel are more and mightier than we,' and feared they would join Egypt's enemies in war (Exodus 1:7-10). To keep them in check, he set taskmasters over them to afflict them with burdens (Exodus 1:11).
Les Feldick notes the census in Numbers 26 numbered 600,730 men — but that was only the select group of young men of military age. Counting families, he puts the total Israelite population at several million, and at the Exodus he estimates three to seven million, not counting the mixed multitude that came with them.
No. Les Feldick teaches that it was also economic. The Israelites were the backbone of Egypt's economy — the workers who got the daily work done while the Egyptian elite supervised. As Les puts it, Pharaoh's complaint was that without the Jews he had nothing.
No. Exodus 1:12 records the opposite: 'the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew.' The Egyptians were grieved because their plan to slow Israel's growth failed.
Watch the Teaching: From Genesis to Exodus: Understanding the Biblical Timeline of Israel