When Pharaoh addresses his people, he echoes the language of Exodus 1:7 and states that Israel is too many and too mighty for us.
However, the Hebrew could be translated in more than one way:1
more numerous and stronger than we are
(NET)too many and too mighty for us
(ESV)
If the first translation is used, certain questions arise: did Israel actually outnumber Egypt at this point or was Pharaoh exaggerating in order to move his people to action?2 However, the latter is likely the best translation, giving the sense that Israel is too large and too strong Egypt’s liking. For the text makes clear that Pharaoh is more concerned about Israel’s future growth and its consequences than their current size. Thus, he says in Exodus 1:10 that Egypt must deal shrewdly with Israel lest they multiply.
And his initial strategy—subjecting Israel to forced labour—aims more at weakening them and slowing their growth than decreasing their population. In other words, Israel is presently a manageable threat but the situation is precarious. If Egypt does nothing, Israel would continue to grow, allowing them to take advantage of an enemy attack in order to leave Egypt.
9 And he said to his people, “Behold, the people of Israel are too many and too mighty for us.