Derasha 9 on Shemos 1:11

Parashas Shemos · Passuk 1:11

The Complete Passuk

וַיָּשִׂ֤ימוּ עָלָיו֙ שָׂרֵ֣י מִסִּ֔ים לְמַ֥עַן עַנֹּת֖וֹ בְּסִבְלֹתָ֑ם וַיִּ֜בֶן עָרֵ֤י מִסְכְּנוֹת֙ לְפַרְעֹ֔ה אֶת־פִּתֹ֖ם וְאֶת־רַעַמְסֵֽס׃

Chabad.org — English translation + Rashi

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Sotah 11a (verified).

Sefaria — Exodus 1:11
Sefaria — Sotah 11a
E-Daf — Sotah 11a

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Sotah 11a
״שָׂרֵי מִסִּים״, דָּבָר שֶׁמֵּשִׂים (לְבֵנִים).

English: “Taskmasters” is interpreted through the word-play of something that imposes or compels the making of bricks.

In context: See the cited source for the full section.

Type of Learning

Custom — linguistic reading of missim.

What Is Learned

The officers were appointed to impose and enforce the labor quota that had been publicly modeled.