THE BEGINNING OF THE EGYPTIAN BONDAGE

As soon as Jacob was dead, the eyes of the Israelites were
closed, as well as their hearts. They began to feel the dominion
of the stranger,[1] although real bondage did not enslave
them until some time later. While a single one of the
sons of Jacob was alive, the Egyptians did not venture to
approach the Israelites with evil intent. It was only when
Levi, the last of them, had departed this life that their
suffering
commenced.[2] A change in the relation of the Egyptians
toward the Israelites had, indeed, been noticeable
immediately after the death of Joseph, but they did not
throw off their mask completely until Levi was no more.
Then the slavery of the Israelites supervened in good