Pharaoh’s First Refusal
1. Later, Moses and Aaron went in and said to Pharaoh, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’”
2. But Pharaoh replied, “Who is the LORD, that I should obey His voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.”
3. “The God of the Hebrews has met with us,” they answered. “Please let us go on a three-day journey into the wilderness to sacrifice to the LORD our God, or He may strike us with plague or sword.”
4. But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you draw the people away from their work? Get back to your labor!”
5. And Pharaoh continued, “Look, the people of the land are now many, and you would have them stop their labor!”
Bricks and Straw
6. That day Pharaoh commanded the slave drivers and foremen of the people,
7. “You shall no longer supply the people with straw for making bricks. Let them go and gather their own straw.
8. But require of them the same quota of bricks as they were making before; do not reduce it. For they are lazy; that is why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’
9. Increase the work for the men, so they will be occupied and not pay attention to deceitful words.”
10. So the slave drivers and foremen of the people went out and said to them, “This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I am no longer giving you straw.
11. Go and get your own straw wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced at all.’”
12. So the people scattered throughout the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw.
13. And the slave drivers kept pressing them on, saying, “Fulfill your work quota each day, just as you did when straw was provided.”
14. And the foremen of the Israelites, whom Pharaoh’s slave drivers had set over them, were beaten and asked, “Why have you not fulfilled your quota of bricks yesterday or today, as you did before?”
The Cry of the Israelites
15. So the Israelite foremen went and appealed to Pharaoh: “Why have you treated your servants this way?
16. Your servants are given no straw, yet we are told to make bricks. Your servants are being beaten, but the fault is with your own people.”
17. But Pharaoh replied, “You are slackers, slackers! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’
18. Now get back to work! You will not be given any straw, yet you must deliver your full quota of bricks.”
19. The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble when they were told, “You must not reduce your daily quota of bricks.”
20. As they left Pharaoh’s presence, they encountered Moses and Aaron standing there to meet them,
21. and they said to them, “May the LORD look upon you and judge you! You have made us a stench to Pharaoh and his officials and have put a sword in their hand to kill us.”
22. Then Moses returned to the LORD and asked, “O Lord, why have You brought trouble upon this people? Is this why You sent me?
23. Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has brought trouble upon this people, and You have not delivered Your people at all.”