Oppression Through Cunning
Egypt · Oppression · Strategy · Suffering
וירעו אותנו כמ"ש הבה נתחכמה.
“And they harmed us, as it is said: ‘Come, let us deal wisely.’”
The Sefat Emet explains that the root of the oppression in Egypt lay in the deliberate, calculated intention to afflict Israel, hidden beneath the pretext of national strategy.
פי' שלא כיונו עבור עבודה שנצרך להם רק לייגע ולצער אותנו כמ"ש נתחכמה לו כו'.
“Meaning: their true intention was not the work they claimed to need from us, but only to weary and afflict us, as it says: ‘Let us deal wisely with him,’ etc.”
Here the Sefat Emet emphasizes that Egypt’s demand for labor was only a façade; the essence of the decree was spiritual and emotional crushing, a deliberate strategy to break Israel’s inner strength.
Summary: The oppression in Egypt was not functional but intentional—designed to cause suffering under the guise of national necessity.