Exodus 1:13

Made the children of Israel to serve.

So far were the pretended fears of the Egyptians from working within them the least sentiment of clemency, that they were evidently goaded on by the frustration of their hopes to. still more relentless course of oppression. Wicked men are slow to be taught, when their mad schemes are defeated, that God fights against them; and even if such. thought now and then glances upon their minds they seem to be stung and exasperated by it to rush on yet more recklessly in the way of rebellion.-- Bush.

With rigor.

From the original word here used comes the Latin ferox and the English fierce. The purpose of the Egyptians was, (1) To break their spirits; (2) to ruin their health and shorten their days, and so diminish their numbers; (3) to discourage them from marrying, since their children would be born to slavery.