Bricks and Straw
On that same day, Pharaoh commands the taskmasters and foremen to stop supplying straw while keeping the same brick quota. He calls the people lazy and means harsher work to silence their desire to sacrifice to God.
T6hat same day Pharaoh 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. 8But 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.’ 9Make the work harder on the men so they will be occupied and pay no attention to these lies.”
The taskmasters and foremen announce Pharaoh’s order: the people must find their own straw, yet nothing in their workload will be reduced. Israel scatters through Egypt searching for stubble.
10So the taskmasters and foremen of the people went out and said to them, “This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I am no longer giving you straw. 11Go and get your own straw wherever you can find it; but your workload will in no way be reduced.’” 12So the people scattered all over the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw.
The pressure increases as the taskmasters demand each day’s full quota as before. When the bricks fall short, the Israelite foremen are beaten and called to account.
13The taskmasters kept pressing them, saying, “Fulfill your quota each day, just as you did when straw was provided.” 14Then the Israelite foremen, whom Pharaoh’s 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?”