The Egyptians subjugated the Israelites with oppressive labor [befarekh]. The Sages interpret the term befarekh as a contraction of the words befeh rakh, with a gentle mouth. Initially, the Egyptians persuaded the Israelites to work by means of positive speech, which then transformed into violent coercion.

This is to teach you that when Pharaoh said to his advisors about the Israelites: “Let us be cunning concerning them” (Exodus 1:10), Pharaoh then assembled all of the Israelites. He said to them: Please, do me a favor today and perform labor. That is what is written: “The Egyptians coerced the children of Israel to work befarekh” (1:13), initially befeh rakh, with a gentle mouth. Pharaoh took a basket and a rake to gather stalks and straw to make bricks, and anyone who saw Pharaoh taking a basket and a rake and making bricks would do so. The Israelites went with alacrity, and they worked with him all day to the best of their abilities. They produced many bricks because they were powerful and strong. Once it grew dark, Pharaoh appointed taskmasters [who had authority even to strike the Israelites] over them. He said to the taskmasters: Count the bricks the Israelites produced. Immediately, they stood and tallied them. Pharaoh said to the taskmasters: You will supply me with this amount of bricks every day. (Tanĥuma, Behaalotekha)