“And they afflicted us” (Deuteronomy 26:6) as it is said, “They appointed taskmasters over them in order to afflict them with burdens.(Exodus 1:11)” As in other cases, this statement contains a passage from the declaration in Deuteronomy, Chapter 26, and a proof text taken from the beginning of the Book of Exodus. But what does the proof text add to our understanding of the passage from Deuteronomy? The two passages appear to be the same. Exodus does not seem to expand our understanding of Deuteronomy. Rabbi Epstein argues that the verse from Exodus adds something to our understanding of Deuteronomy. By saying “in order to afflict them with burdens,” it suggests that the very purpose of the subjugation of Israel was not to benefit from their labor and hard work but simply to afflict Israel. Egypt could have afflicted Israel in order to get them to be more productive. The verse in Exodus suggests that they were afflicted simply for the sadistic pleasure of the Egyptians; to make them suffer. By simply saying that they afflicted them, we do not know the true purpose of the affliction. Exodus 1:11 adds this to our understanding of the text. “We cried out to Adonai, the God of our ancestors, and Adonai heard our voice.” (Deuteronomy 26:7): The Midrash teaches us that there are no unnecessary or redundant words in the Bible. If something is repeated there must be a reason for the repetition. So why does this verse repeat God’s name in the second half of the verse, “And Adonai heard our voice?” It could have said, “We cried out to Adonai, the God of our ancestors, and (He) heard our voice.” Why do we repeat “Adonai” twice in this verse? This teaches us that prayer ought to be based on humility. No one should assume that he is entitled to God’s intervention. The Talmud, Berachot 10b, says: “If a person petitions God in his own name (in other words, as if he were deserving of God’s assistance), then God will make him dependent upon on the assistance of others; but if he petitions God in the name of others, then God will reward him on his own merit.” This cryptic statement teaches us that God is more likely to answer our prayers when we are humble enough to ask for God’s assistance in the name of our ancestors not because we somehow believe that we are deserving or worthy of God’s assistance. That explains why Deuteronomy, 26:7, repeats the name of God. Because our ancestors cried out to the God of their ancestors (and not in their own name), God heard their voice and answered them directly.