Exodus 5:12

12 So the people scattered all over Egypt. They went to gather any pieces of straw that were left in the fields.

Exodus 5:12 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 5:12

So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of
Egypt
That part of it where they dwelt:

to gather stubble instead of straw;
straw not being easy to come at, they were obliged to gather stubble that was left in the fields, after the corn was gathered in. Ben Melech observes, that the word signifies small straw, or small sticks of wood, and Kimchi ^F13, and if so, this must be to burn the bricks with in the furnaces.

---

FOOTNOTES:

F13 Sepher Shorash, rad. (vvq) .

Exodus 5:12 In-Context

10 The slave drivers and the others who were in charge left. They said to the people, "Pharaoh says, 'I won't give you any more straw.

11 Go and get your own straw anywhere you can find it. But you still have to make the same number of bricks.' "

12 So the people scattered all over Egypt. They went to gather any pieces of straw that were left in the fields.

13 The slave drivers kept making the people work hard. They said, "Finish the work you are required to do each day. Make the same number of bricks you made when you had straw."

14 They whipped the Israelites who were in charge of the people. Those Israelites had been appointed by Pharaoh's slave drivers. The slave drivers asked, "Why didn't you make the same number of bricks yesterday or today, just as before?"