ExodusChapter 5

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¹After that, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh. They said, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'Let my people go, so that they may hold a feast for me in the wilderness.'" ²But Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD? Why should I obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD. And I will not let Israel go." ³They answered, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go on a three-day trip into the wilderness so we can offer sacrifices to the LORD our God. If we don't, he may strike us with plagues or with the sword." ⁴But the king of Egypt said to them, "Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their work? Get back to work!" ⁵Pharaoh also said, "Look, there are so many of these people in the land now. And you want them to stop working!" ⁶That same day Pharaoh gave orders to the slave bosses and the foremen over the people. ⁷"Don't give the people straw for making bricks anymore. Let them go and gather their own straw. ⁸But make them make the same number of bricks as before. Don't lower it. They are lazy. That is why they are crying out, 'Let us go and offer sacrifices to our God.' ⁹Make the men work harder. Keep them busy so they won't pay attention to these lies." ¹⁰So the slave bosses and the foremen went out to the people. They said, "This is what Pharaoh says: 'I will not give you straw anymore. ¹¹Go and get your own straw wherever you can find it. But you must still do just as much work.'" ¹²So the people spread out all over Egypt. They gathered stubble to use for straw.a ¹³The slave bosses kept pushing them. They said, "Finish your work each day. Make as many bricks as you did when you had straw." ¹⁴Pharaoh's slave bosses had put Israelite foremen over the people. Now these foremen were beaten. The bosses asked them, "Why didn't you make all your bricks yesterday or today, like before?" ¹⁵So the Israelite foremen went to Pharaoh and begged him. "Why are you treating your servants like this? ¹⁶Your servants get no straw. But they still tell us, 'Make bricks!' Look, your servants are being beaten. But it's your own people's fault." ¹⁷Pharaoh said, "You are lazy! You are lazy! That is why you keep saying, 'Let us go and offer sacrifices to the LORD.' ¹⁸Now get to work! You will get no straw. But you must still make the full number of bricks." ¹⁹They were told, "You must still make the same number of bricks each day." Then the Israelite foremen knew they were in trouble. ²⁰They left Pharaoh. Moses and Aaron were standing there, waiting to meet them. The foremen went right up to them. ²¹The foremen said, "May the LORD look at you and judge you! You have made Pharaoh and his officials hate us. You have handed them a sword to kill us!" ²²So Moses went back to the LORD. He said, "Lord, why have you brought trouble on these people? Is this why you sent me? ²³I went to Pharaoh to speak in your name. Ever since then, he has brought trouble on these people. And you have not rescued your people at all."