2
But Pharaoh said, "Who is the Lord, that I should heed him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and I will not let Israel go."
3
Then they said, "The God of the Hebrews has revealed himself to us; let us go a three days' journey into the wilderness to sacrifice to the Lord our God, or he will fall upon us with pestilence or sword."
4
But the king of Egypt said to them, "Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their work? Get to your labors!"
5
Pharaoh continued, "Now they are more numerous than the people of the land and yet you want them to stop working!"
6
That same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people, as well as their supervisors,
7
"You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks, as before; let them go and gather straw for themselves.
8
But you shall require of them the same quantity of bricks as they have made previously; do not diminish it, for they are lazy; that is why they cry, "Let us go and offer sacrifice to our God.'
9
Let heavier work be laid on them; then they will labor at it and pay no attention to deceptive words."
10
So the taskmasters and the supervisors of the people went out and said to the people, "Thus says Pharaoh, "I will not give you straw.
11
Go and get straw yourselves, wherever you can find it; but your work will not be lessened in the least.' "
12
So the people scattered throughout the land of Egypt, to gather stubble for straw.