Exodus 5:1-18 ▼

1 After that, Moses (drawn out) and Aaron (light bringer) went to Pharaoh (great house) and said, “This is what the LORD, the God {YHWH Elohe} of Israel (he wrestles with God), says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’”

2 But Pharaoh (great house) replied, “Who is the LORD {YHWH} that I should obey His voice and let Israel (he wrestles with God) go? I do not know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.”

3 “The God {Elohe} of the Hebrews (those from beyond) has met with us,” they answered. “Please let us go on a three-day journey into the wilderness to sacrifice to the LORD {YHWH} our God, or He may strike us with plagues or with the sword.”

4 But the king of Egypt (land of bondage) said to them, “Moses (drawn out) and Aaron (light bringer), why do you⁺ draw the people away from their work? Get back to your⁺ labor!”

5 Pharaoh (great house) also said, “Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you⁺ would be stopping them from their labor.”

6 That same day Pharaoh (great house) commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen:

7 “You⁺ shall no longer supply the people with straw for making bricks. They must go and gather their own straw.

8 But require of them the same quota of bricks as before; do not reduce it. For they are lazy; that is why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God {Elohehenu}.’

9 Make the work harder on the men so they will be occupied and pay no attention to these lies.”

10 So the taskmasters and foremen of the people went out and said to them, “This is what Pharaoh (great house) says: ‘I am no longer giving you⁺ straw.

11 Go and get your⁺ own straw wherever you⁺ can find it; but your⁺ workload will in no way be reduced.’”

12 So the people scattered all over the land of Egypt (land of bondage) to gather stubble for straw.

13 The taskmasters kept pressing them, saying, “Fulfill your⁺ quota each day, just as you⁺ did when straw was provided.”

14 Then the Israelite (he wrestles with God) foremen, whom Pharaoh’s (great house) taskmasters had set over the people, were beaten and asked, “Why have you⁺ not fulfilled your⁺ quota of bricks yesterday or today, as you did before?”

15 So the Israelite (he wrestles with God) foremen went and appealed to Pharaoh (great house): “Why are you treating your servants this way?

16 No straw has been given to your servants, yet we are told, ‘Make bricks!’ Look, your servants are being beaten, but the fault is with your own people.”

17 “You⁺ are slackers!” Pharaoh replied. “Slackers! That is why you⁺ keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD {YHWH}.’

18 Now get to work. You⁺ will be given no straw, yet you⁺ must deliver the full quota of bricks.”