In the biblical narrative, "treasure-cities" refers to cities that were built or fortified to store wealth, resources, and supplies, often for a ruling power. These cities are mentioned in the context of the Israelites' bondage in Egypt, highlighting the oppressive labor imposed upon them by the Egyptians.

Biblical Reference:

The primary reference to treasure-cities is found in the Book of Exodus. The Israelites, under the harsh rule of Pharaoh, were compelled to build these cities as part of their forced labor:

· Exodus 1:11 : "So the Egyptians appointed taskmasters over them to oppress them with forced labor. As a result, they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh."

In this passage, Pithom and Rameses are identified as the treasure-cities constructed by the Israelites. These cities served as storage centers for the wealth and provisions of Egypt, underscoring the economic and strategic importance of such locations in the ancient world.

Historical and Archaeological Context:

The identification of Pithom and Rameses has been a subject of scholarly debate, with various archaeological sites proposed as their possible locations. Rameses is often associated with the city of Pi-Ramesses, a prominent city in the Nile Delta during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II. Pithom's location is less certain, but it is generally thought to be in the eastern Delta region.

These cities were crucial for the Egyptian empire, serving not only as storage facilities but also as military and administrative centers. The construction of such cities required significant manpower, which the Egyptians sourced from their enslaved populations, including the Israelites.

Theological Significance:

The mention of treasure-cities in the Bible highlights the severity of the Israelites' oppression in Egypt. The forced labor imposed upon them is a testament to their suffering and the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham that his descendants would be enslaved in a foreign land (Genesis 15:13). The construction of these cities symbolizes the broader theme of bondage and deliverance that runs throughout the Exodus narrative.

Moreover, the treasure-cities serve as a backdrop for God's redemptive power. Despite the Israelites' subjugation, God hears their cries and raises Moses to lead them out of Egypt, demonstrating His faithfulness and sovereignty. The eventual liberation from Egypt and the journey to the Promised Land are central to the identity and faith of the Israelite people.

Cultural and Symbolic Implications:

In a broader cultural context, treasure-cities represent the accumulation and centralization of wealth and power. They are emblematic of the earthly kingdoms that often stand in contrast to the spiritual kingdom of God. The biblical narrative frequently contrasts the temporal nature of human wealth with the eternal treasures of God's kingdom, as seen in Jesus' teachings in the New Testament (Matthew 6:19-21).

The account of the treasure-cities thus serves as a reminder of the futility of relying on earthly riches and the importance of seeking spiritual wealth. It calls believers to reflect on the nature of true treasure and the ultimate deliverance found in God.

The Secret of Its Greatness
... in the world. 'And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses,'
(Exodus 1:11) that is, store-cities. In Egypt many ...
/.../duff/the bible in its making/chapter ii the secret of.htm

Entangled in the Land
... enslaved them. They had been a very useful body of workers; for they had
built treasure cities and storehouses for Pharaoh. Compelled ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/entangled in the land.htm

Four Shaping Centuries
... Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens.
And they built for Pharaoh treasure-cities, Pithom and Raamses.12. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture k/four shaping centuries.htm

The Jewish World in the Days of Christ - the Jewish Dispersion in ...
... of thousands of armed men. Another of these Jewish treasure-cities was Nisibis,
in northern Mesopotamia. Even the fact that wealth ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter i the jewish world.htm

Moses
... Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens.
And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithon and Raamses. . . . ...
/.../kingsley/the gospel of the pentateuch/sermon ix moses.htm

The Gospel Refuge.
... "Ye are complete in Him." He, as the true Joseph, gives forth out of the
storehouses in His "treasure-cities," to all His needy people. ...
/.../macduff/the cities of refuge or the name of jesus/iii the gospel refuge.htm

Perpetual Youth
... the leafy coverts, and what diseases hover among the marshes, and how short a distance
ahead we can see, and how far off it is to the treasure-cities that we ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/perpetual youth.htm

Sources of the Pentateuch.
... We are told in the Exodus that the Israelites were impressed by Pharaoh into building
for him two store-cities ("treasure cities," the old version calls them ...
/.../gladden/who wrote the bible/chapter iii sources of the.htm

The Bible
... The statement in Exodus that Pharaoh forced the Children of Israel while building
his treasure cities to make bricks without straw, has been treated as a fable ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/haldeman/christ christianity and the bible/the bible.htm

Prosperity under Persecution
... Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens.
And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities, Pithom and Raamses. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 17 1871/prosperity under persecution.htm

Treasure-cities (1 Occurrence)
Treasure-cities. Treasure-chests, Treasure-cities. Treasured .
Multi-Version Concordance Treasure-cities (1 Occurrence). ...
/t/treasure-cities.htm - 6k

Rameses (5 Occurrences)
... After the Hebrews had built Rameses, one of the "treasurecities," it came
to be known as the "land" in which that city was built. ...
/r/rameses.htm - 13k

City
... The Israelites in Egypt were employed in building the "treasurecities" of Pithom
and Raamses (Exodus 1:11); but it does not seem that they had any cities of ...
/c/city.htm - 43k

Treasured (20 Occurrences)

/t/treasured.htm - 12k

Treasure (66 Occurrences)
...Treasurecities. Store cities which the Israelites built for the Egyptians (Exodus
1:11). ... And they built for Pharaoh treasurecities, Pithom and Raamses. ...
/t/treasure.htm - 36k

Task-masters (6 Occurrences)
... Exodus 1:11 Therefore they set over them task-masters, to afflict them with their
burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure-cities, Pithom, and Raamses. ...
/t/task-masters.htm - 8k

Treasure-chests (1 Occurrence)
Treasure-chests. Treasure, Treasure-chests. Treasure-cities . Multi-Version
Concordance ... (WEY). Treasure, Treasure-chests. Treasure-cities . Reference Bible
/t/treasure-chests.htm - 6k

Raamses (1 Occurrence)
... to settle down" (Arabic sakan, "settlement," Assyrian sakanu or shakanu, "to set"),
but it is rendered "strong cities" in Septuagint, "treasurecities" in the ...
/r/raamses.htm - 10k

Ramses
... to settle down" (Arabic sakan, "settlement," Assyrian sakanu or shakanu, "to set"),
but it is rendered "strong cities" in Septuagint, "treasurecities" in the ...
/r/ramses.htm - 10k

Pithom (1 Occurrence)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Egyptian, Pa-Tum, "house of Tum," the sun-god,
one of the "treasure" cities built for Pharaoh Rameses II. ...
/p/pithom.htm - 12k

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