Our Lord & Savior

The Book Exodus: Part 1

First encounter with the Pharoah

(Exodus 5:1-21)

[1]Afterward, Moses and Aaron approached Pharaoh and declared, "Thus speaks the Lord God of Israel: 'Release My people so they may celebrate a feast to Me in the wilderness.'"

[2]Pharaoh responded, "Who is the Lord that I should heed His command to release Israel? I do not recognize the Lord, nor will I release Israel."

[3]They replied, "The God of the Hebrews has revealed Himself to us. We implore you, let us travel three days into the desert to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God, or He may strike us with plague or sword."

[4]The king of Egypt then questioned them, "Moses and Aaron, why do you distract the people from their work? Return to your tasks."

[5]Pharaoh observed, "Behold, the people of the land now are numerous, and you have made them cease their labor!"

[6]Thus, on that day, Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their officers, stating,

[7]"You shall no longer provide straw for the people to make bricks as in the past. Let them go and gather straw for themselves.

[8]However, impose upon them the same quota of bricks as before; do not reduce it. They are lazy; that is why they cry out, 'Let us go and offer sacrifices to our God.'

[9]Increase the workload for the men so that they keep working and pay no attention to deceptive words."

[10]The taskmasters of the people and their officers went out and told the people, "Pharaoh says, 'I will not supply you with straw.

[11]Go and get your straw wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced in the least.' "

[12]Therefore, the people dispersed throughout the land of Egypt to collect stubble to use as straw.

[13]The taskmasters hurried them, insisting, "Complete your tasks, your daily quotas, just as when you had straw."

[14]Moreover, the Israelite officers, appointed by Pharaoh's taskmasters, were flogged and questioned, "Why haven't you met your quota for making bricks yesterday and today, as before?"

[15]So the officers of the Israelites went and pleaded with Pharaoh, "Why do you treat your servants this way?

[16]No straw is provided for your servants, yet they tell us, 'Make bricks!' See, your servants are being beaten, but the fault is with your own people."

[17]But Pharaoh retorted, "You are slack! Slack! That's why you say, 'Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.'

[18]Now get to work; no straw will be given to you, but you must still deliver the full quota of bricks."

[19]The Israelite officers realized they were in a dire situation when they were told, "You must not reduce the number of bricks required of you for each day."

[20] As they left Pharaoh's presence, Moses and Aaron were met on the path by the people,

[21] who said to them, "May the Lord take notice and judge, for you have made us repugnant in Pharaoh's eyes and those of his servants, giving them the means to kill us."