Exodus 5:8

8 and ye shall set on them the measure of tilestones, which they made before (but ye shall still require from them the same number of bricks, which they made before), neither ye shall abate anything; for they be idle, and therefore they cry (out), and say, Go we, and make we sacrifice(s) to our God;

Exodus 5:8 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 5:8

And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, you
shall lay upon them
Oblige them to make and bring in the same number of bricks they used to do, when straw was brought to them and given them; by which it appears, that their daily task was such a number of bricks:

you shall not diminish ought thereof;
not make any abatement of the number of bricks, in consideration of their loss of time and their labour in going to fetch straw from other places:

for they be idle;
and want to be indulged in a lazy disposition, which ought by no means to be connived at:

therefore they cry, let us go and sacrifice to our God;
suggesting, that this request and cry of theirs did not proceed from a religious principle, or the great veneration they had for their God, but from the sloth and idleness they were addicted to.

Exodus 5:8 In-Context

6 Therefore Pharaoh commanded in that day to the masters of works (And so that day Pharaoh commanded to the taskmasters), and to the rent gatherers of the people, and said,

7 Ye shall no more give straw to the people, to make tilestones, as ye have done before; but go they, and gather stubble; (No more shall ye give straw to the people, to make the bricks, as ye have done before; but let them go, and gather the stubble themselves;)

8 and ye shall set on them the measure of tilestones, which they made before (but ye shall still require from them the same number of bricks, which they made before), neither ye shall abate anything; for they be idle, and therefore they cry (out), and say, Go we, and make we sacrifice(s) to our God;

9 be they oppressed by works, and fulfill they those (let them be oppressed by their work, and make them complete it), (so) that they assent not to false words.

10 Therefore the masters of the works and the rent gatherers went out to the people, and said, Thus saith Pharaoh, I give not to you straw (I shall not give you any more straw);