Matthew Henry Commentary Exodus 1:8-14

"Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who knew not Joseph. And he said unto his people, Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we: come, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they also join themselves unto our enemies, and fight against us, and get them up out of the land. Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh store-cities, Pithom and Raamses. But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread abroad. And they were grieved because of the children of Israel. And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigor: and they made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field, all their service, wherein they made them serve with rigor." — Exodus 1:8-14 (ASV)

The land of Egypt became a house of bondage to Israel. The place where we have been happy may soon become the place of our affliction; and that may prove the greatest cross to us, about which we once said, 'This very thing will comfort us.' Cease from man, and do not say of any place on this side of heaven, 'This is my rest.' All who knew Joseph loved him and were kind to his brothers for his sake; but the best and most useful services a person does for others are soon forgotten after their death.

Our great care should be to serve God and to please Him, who is not unrighteous (as humans often are) so as to forget our work and labor of love. The offense of Israel is that they prosper. There is no sight more hateful to a wicked person than the prosperity of the righteous. The Egyptians feared that the children of Israel might join their enemies and get them up out of the land.

Wickedness is always cowardly and unjust; it makes a person fear where there is no true reason for fear, and flee when no one pursues. Human wisdom is often foolishness and very sinful. God's people had taskmasters set over them, not only to burden them but to afflict them with their burdens. They not only made them serve for Pharaoh's profit, but did so in such a way that their lives became bitter.

The Israelites wonderfully increased. Christianity spread most when it was persecuted: the blood of the martyrs was the seed of the church. Those who take counsel against the Lord and His Israel only imagine a vain thing and create greater vexation for themselves.