So they appointed tax collectors over them to afflict them with their burdens, and they built store cities for Pharaoh, namely Pithom and Raamses. Then the Posuk continues:
So the Egyptians enslaved the children of Israel with backbreaking labor.
There are some difficulties in this Parsha as well as the Psukim. The main question is: How did Pharaoh succeed in gaining control over Klal Yisrael to work for him in hard labor and building his large cities? It cannot be possible that he gave a sudden decree one day and the Yidden agreed, as there would have been a revolt! Also, the Posuk itself has no meaning: It says “They appointed them tax collectors” and the Posuk continues that this tax collecting caused the Yidden to work and that they built cities for Pharaoh. What can be the connection between these acts? The Gaon Harav Shlomo Kluger in his Sefer Imrei Shefer has a beautiful insight into understanding the Posuk.
The Midrash Lekav Tov says that in the beginning Pharaoh went with wisdom, and began offering the Yidden lots of money and presents to work for him. It was very enticing and many Yidden took the offer and began working. As time went on, the second stage began. This time, he placed a decree that he was no longer offering money for work. However, there was a choice given, either working or paying tax to be exempt from work. Of course, most would rather pay the tax instead of working as the tax wasn’t too high. Then came the third stage:
They appointed over them tax collectors. The taxes became so high “they would become poor and not able to afford the high taxes. This caused the Yidden with their burdens, that they had no choice but to begin working. Once they had to work, they were forced to hard labor and they built store cities for Pharaoh, namely Pithom and Raamses.
This is why the Torah continues the word means with soft words. This is to give the explanation on how Pharaoh forced the Yidden to hard labor.
(Hagaon Rav Shlomo Kluger Ztza’l)
