| Exodus 1:11
| Therefore he set over them masters of the works, to afflict them with burdens: and they built for Pharao cities of tabernacles, Phithom, and Ramesses.
| Masters. Cruel like himself, who not only made them build without proper materials, (ver. 14, and Exodus 5:10, Haydock,) but oppressed them with heavy burdens of brick and tile. Hence Aristophanes calls the Hebrews in derision Plinthophoroi. This servitude is styled the iron furnace of Egypt, Deuteronomy 4:20; Jeremias 11:4. --- Of tabernacles, or of storehouses. (Challoner) --- To keep his treasures, Chaldean, or "fortresses," Septuagint. It may also be the name of a city, Miscenoth, Exodus 12:37. Phithom, perhaps the same as the town of Heroum, where the Septuagint say Joseph first met his father, Genesis 46:28. Ramesses was the capital, and situate in the Arabic nome. (Calmet)
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