Exodus 5:10

10 The people's slavemasters went out, their foremen too, and said to the people, "Here is what Pharaoh says: 'I will no longer give you straw.

Exodus 5:10 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 5:10

And the taskmasters of the people went out
From the presence of Pharaoh, out of his court, to the respective places where they were set to see that the Israelites did their work:

and their officers;
the officers of the Israelites, who were under the taskmasters, and answerable to them for the work of the people, and their tale of bricks:

and they spake to the people, saying, thus saith Pharaoh, I will not
give you straw;
that is, any longer, as he had used to do.

Exodus 5:10 In-Context

8 But you will require them to produce the same quantity of bricks as before, don't reduce it, because they're lazing around. This is why they're crying, 'Let us go and sacrifice to our God.'

9 Give these people harder work to do. That will keep them too busy to pay attention to speeches full of lies."

10 The people's slavemasters went out, their foremen too, and said to the people, "Here is what Pharaoh says: 'I will no longer give you straw.

11 You go, yourselves, and get straw wherever you can find it. But your output is not to be reduced.'"

12 So the people were dispersed throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw.