Exodus 5:1-9 ▼

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.”