Translator's Summary: many of the Midrashic comments in the Maggid are simply a verse from Deut. 26 which are explained by a verse from Exodus with little comment. We are left to wonder what one verse adds to our understanding of the other verse. Chida offers an explanation that unpacks the connection of the two verses. In this case, he wonders why Deut. 26:6 simply says hard work and does not comment on the oppressive nature of the work imposed on Israel by the Egyptians. The verse from Exodus 1:11 hints at the way the Israelites were ensnared into serving Pharaoh by his peh rakh, his soft tongue. “And put upon us hard work," as it is stated, “And they enslaved…” The verse should have been, “They oppressed us with hard labor.” The reason for this is in the proof text: bifarekh: at first they seduced them with a feh rakh (soft tongue) and then with ferakh, with breaking labor. It would appear that Israel caused their own suffering, if they had not listened to them speak with a soft tongue as the tribe of Levi did, they would not have been entrapped. Thus, it says, “They placed upon us” - that is “for our sake.” At first we agreed to the hard work. The Maggid rightly comments: They enslaved us with a soft tongue, bifeh rakh and then with rigor farekh. That is why it says, “They placed upon us,” - that is, because of us.