they join our enemies and fight against us and escape from the land."
I always remember the "join our enemies" part, but overlook the "escape from the land" part. This hints that the land relied on the Israelite for their economy and labor already, even before they were enslaved.
I have never thought about that part of it. This post and the reading therein are the only clues we have to life before they were enslaved. Glad you brought that up. Thanks.