The men were worn down in body and mind by constant labour, the children were not allowed to live.
Egyptian testimony confirms the statement of Scripture that this policy was actually carried out.

A hymn of victory addressed to Meneptah alludes to "the Israelites" to whom "no seed" had been left.

But the policy was ineffectual.

The opportunity came at last when the serfs could fly from their enforced labour and escape into the wilderness.
It was in the fifth year of Meneptah (B.C.

1276).