In the biblical narrative, captors and oppressors are often depicted as instruments of divine judgment, as well as symbols of the fallen nature of humanity. Throughout Scripture, the people of God encounter various captors and oppressors, who serve as both literal and metaphorical representations of bondage and adversity.

Old Testament Context

In the Old Testament, the Israelites frequently faced oppression from surrounding nations. One of the earliest examples is found in the account of the Israelites' enslavement in Egypt. Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, is portrayed as a harsh oppressor who subjects the Israelites to brutal labor. Exodus 1:13-14 states, "They worked the Israelites ruthlessly and made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their hard labor, the Egyptians used them ruth