Exodus 5:6

6 Pharaoh took immediate action. He sent down orders to the slave-drivers and their underlings:

Exodus 5:6 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 5:6

And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the
people
Who were Egyptians, and whom Pharaoh sent for the same day, to give them orders to oppress them yet more and more, so far was he from complying with their request:

[and] their officers;
who were Israelites, and were under the taskmasters, and accountable to them for each man's work that they had the inspection and care of:

saying,
as follows.

Exodus 5:6 In-Context

4 But the king of Egypt said, "Why on earth, Moses and Aaron, would you suggest the people be given a holiday? Back to work!"

5 Pharaoh went on, "Look, I've got all these people bumming around, and now you want to reward them with time off?"

6 Pharaoh took immediate action. He sent down orders to the slave-drivers and their underlings:

7 "Don't provide straw for the people for making bricks as you have been doing. Make them get their own straw.

8 And make them produce the same number of bricks - no reduction in their daily quotas! They're getting lazy. They're going around saying, 'Give us time off so we can worship our God.'