Pithom

Pithom is one of the two Egyptian store-cities the Hebrews built under forced labor before the exodus. It is named only once in scripture, paired with Raamses.

A Store-City Built by Forced Labor

The opening of Exodus describes Pharaoh's response to Israel's growth in Egypt: he sets slave masters over them and works them at construction. "Therefore they set over them slave masters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh store-cities, Pithom and Raamses." (Ex 1:11). Pithom stands here as a witness to the affliction — a city whose stones were laid by Israelite hands under whips, the physical record of the bondage from which the exodus would deliver them.