taskmasters. oppressors. These taskmasters were Egyptians, but the officers were Hebrews.

Exodus 5:10,13,14,15,19 And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spoke to the people, saying, Thus said Pharaoh...

Exodus 1:11 Therefore they did set over them taskmasters to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh treasure cities...

Proverbs 12:10 A righteous man regards the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

officers. {Shoterim,} from the Arabic {saytara,} to overlook, superintend, seems to denote, as {musaytar} in Arabic also does, overseers, superintendents. They may have been somewhat like the chiefs of trades, who are found in every city in the East; where every trade has a head, who is entrusted with authority over them, and is in some measure answerable for them to Government.

Exodus 2:14 And he said, Who made you a prince and a judge over us? intend you to kill me, as you killed the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said...