The Word Am I

The Second Book of Moses: Exodus

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- Chapter 5 -

1
After these things, Moses and Aaron entered, and they said to Pharaoh: “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: Release my people, so that they may sacrifice to me in the desert.”
2
But he responded: “Who is the Lord, that I should listen to his voice and release Israel? I do not know the Lord, and I will not release Israel.”
3
And they said: “The God of the Hebrews has called us, so that we may go three days’ journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lord our God. Otherwise, a pestilence or the sword may befall us.”
4
The king of Egypt said to them: “Why do you, Moses and Aaron, distract the people from their works? Go back to your burdens.”
5
And Pharaoh said: “The people of the land are many. You see that the turmoil has increased: how much more if you give them rest from the works?”(a)

Bricks and Straw

6
Therefore, on the same day, he instructed the overseers of the works, and the taskmasters of the people, saying:(b)
7
“You shall no longer give chaff to the people to form bricks, as before. But they may go and gather straw.
8
And you shall impose upon them the same quota of bricks that they made before. Neither will you lessen anything, for they are idle, and therefore they cry out, saying: ‘We shall go and sacrifice to our God.’
9
They shall be oppressed with works, and these shall occupy them, so that they may not agree to lying words.”
10
And so the overseers of the works and the taskmasters went out and said to the people: “Thus says Pharaoh: I give you no chaff.
11
Go, and collect it wherever you are able to find it. Neither will anything of your work be diminished.”
12
And the people were dispersed through all the land of Egypt, in order to gather straw.
13
Likewise, the overseers of the works pressured them, saying: “Complete your work each day, just as you were accustomed to do before, when straw was given to you.”
14
And those who were first in the works of the sons of Israel were scourged by Pharaoh’s taskmasters, saying: “Why have you not filled the quota of bricks, neither yesterday, nor today, just as before?”(c)

The Cry of the Israelites

15
And the first among the sons of Israel came, and they cried out to Pharaoh, saying: “Why do act against your servants in this way?
16
Straw is not given to us, and yet the same amount of bricks is commanded. So we, your servants, are cut up by scourging, and injustice is done against your people.”
17
And he said: “You are idle. And for this reason you say, ‘We shall go and sacrifice to the Lord.’
18
Therefore, go and work. Straw will not be given to you, and you will return the customary number of bricks.”
19
And the first among the sons of Israel saw themselves in a crisis, because it was said to them, “Nothing at all will be lessened from the bricks throughout each day.”
20
And they met with Moses and Aaron, who stood opposite them as they departed from Pharaoh.
21
And they said to them: “May the Lord see and judge, because you have caused our odor to become foul before Pharaoh and his servants, and you have provided him with a sword, in order to kill us.”
22
And Moses returned to the Lord, and he said: “Lord, why have you afflicted this people? Why have you sent me?
23
For from the time that I entered to Pharaoh, so as to speak in your name, he has afflicted your people. And you have not freed them.”

Footnotes

(a)5:5 The word ‘turba’ can refer to a multitude or crowd, but moreover it refers to a crowd that is causing a disturbance, or which has undue influence.(Conte)
(b)5:6 Or, more literally, ‘the exactors of the people.’(Conte)
(c)5:14 There seems to be several levels of leadership in the brick works. The overseers were in the highest position in this hierarchy, then the taskmasters, then the first among the sons of Israel. These leaders among the sons of Israel worked and also were responsible for overseeing the workers. They were ‘straw bosses,’ i.e. workers with an additional role of leadership over their fellow workers.(Conte)
1
Afterward Moses and Aaron came, and said to Pharaoh, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says, ‘Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.’”
2
Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should listen to his voice to let Israel go? I don’t know the LORD, and moreover I will not let Israel go.”
3
They said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go three days’ journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the LORD, our God, lest he fall on us with pestilence, or with the sword.”
4
The king of Egypt said to them, “Why do you, Moses and Aaron, take the people from their work? Get back to your burdens!”
5
Pharaoh said, “Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens.”

Bricks and Straw

6
The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their officers, saying,
7
“You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick, as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves.
8
You shall require from them the number of the bricks which they made before. You shall not diminish anything of it, for they are idle. Therefore they cry, saying, ‘Let’s go and sacrifice to our God.’
9
Let heavier work be laid on the men, that they may labor in it. Don’t let them pay any attention to lying words.”
10
The taskmasters of the people went out with their officers, and they spoke to the people, saying, “This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I will not give you straw.
11
Go yourselves, get straw where you can find it, for nothing of your work shall be diminished.’”
12
So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw.
13
The taskmasters were urgent saying, “Fulfill your work quota daily, as when there was straw!”
14
The officers of the children of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and were asked, “Why haven’t you fulfilled your quota both yesterday and today, in making brick as before?”

The Cry of the Israelites

15
Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, saying, “Why do you deal this way with your servants?
16
No straw is given to your servants, and they tell us, ‘Make brick!’ and behold, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people.”
17
But Pharaoh said, “You are idle! You are idle! Therefore you say, ‘Let’s go and sacrifice to the LORD.’
18
Go therefore now, and work; for no straw shall be given to you; yet you shall deliver the same number of bricks!”
19
The officers of the children of Israel saw that they were in trouble when it was said, “You shall not diminish anything from your daily quota of bricks!”
20
They met Moses and Aaron, who stood along the way, as they came out from Pharaoh.
21
They said to them, “May the LORD look at you and judge, because you have made us a stench to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us!”
22
Moses returned to the LORD, and said, “Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Why is it that you have sent me?
23
For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people. You have not rescued your people at all!”
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