(RA’AMSES) One reason why the Israelites of Moses’ time were slaves in Egypt was that the Pharaoh wanted a cheap work-force to carry out his spectacular building programs. Among the cities that the Israelites built was Rameses (or Ra’amses), where the buildings included a magnificent palace, large storehouses and defence fortifications (Exod 1:8-11). Rameses was probably the former Hyksos capital, Avaris, rebuilt. (For map and other details see EGYPT.) Rameses was located in that part of the Nile Delta where the family of Jacob had originally settled (Gen 47:11). This was the region from which Jacob’s multitude of descendants set out on their flight from Egypt over four hundred years later (in 1280 BC; Exod 12:37). Rameses was also apparently known as Zoan (Ps 78:12,43), which from 1085 to 660 BC was the capital of Egypt (Isa 19:11,13; 30:4; Ezek 30:14).