Oppression is an Egypt-word in Scripture, the root of the noun “taskmasters” in Exodus (3:7; 5:6, 10, 13, 14).
But Egypt is not the only oppressor. The next time the word is used is in Deuteronomy 15, where anyone who refuses to release debtors in the seventh year is considering an “exacter” – the word is the same as “taskmaster” in Exodus.
Philistines oppressed Israel (1 Samuel 13:6), but during the battle, Saul himself oppresses Israel by laying a curse on any man who eats during the battle (1 Samuel 14:24).
And in Isaiah’s day, Israelites have become taskmasters to one another (3:5), until Yahweh comes to break the yoke of the oppressors.
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