Exodus 5:19

19 The foremen of the sons of Israel saw that they were in trouble because they were told, "You must not reduce your daily amount * of bricks."

Exodus 5:19 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 5:19

And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they
were in evil case
In a bad condition and circumstances, and that there was no likelihood of their getting out of them, since Pharaoh treated them after this manner; they saw not only that the common people were in a bad condition, in great bondage, misery, and distress, to be obliged to get straw to make brick, and carry in their full tale as before; but that they themselves were in a bad situation, since for the deficiency in their people they were like to be beaten for it from time to time:

after it was said, ye shall not minish ought from your bricks of your
daily task;
after this had been said and confirmed by Pharaoh, they had no hope of things being better with them, but looked upon their unhappy lot as irretrievable.

Exodus 5:19 In-Context

17 But he said, "You are lazy, very lazy; therefore you say, 'Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD .'

18 "So go now and work; for you will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the quota of bricks."

19 The foremen of the sons of Israel saw that they were in trouble because they were told, "You must not reduce your daily amount of bricks."

20 When they left Pharaoh's presence , they met Moses and Aaron as they were waiting for them.

21 They said to them, "May the LORD look upon you and judge you, for you have made us odious in Pharaoh's sight and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us."

Footnotes

• [a]. Lit "saying"
• [b]. Lit "from your bricks the matter of a day in its day"