Exodus 1:8-11

8Then a new king, who knew nothing about Joseph, began to rule in Egypt.

9He said to his people, “There are too many Israelites, and they are stronger than we are.

10We have to outsmart them, or they’ll increase in number. Then, if war breaks out, they will join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country.”

11So the Egyptians put slave drivers in charge of them in order to oppress them through forced labor. They built Pithom and Rameses as supply cities for Pharaoh.