Exodus 5:7 - Printer Friendly

ESV: "You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks, as in the past; let them go and gather straw for themselves.

NIV: "You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks; let them go and gather their own straw.

NASB: You are no longer to give the people straw to make bricks as previously; have them go and gather straw for themselves.

CSB: "Don’t continue to supply the people with straw for making bricks, as before. They must go and gather straw for themselves.

NLT: Do not supply any more straw for making bricks. Make the people get it themselves!

KJV: Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves.

NKJV: “You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves.

The people here are the Israelites. Centuries before the events of this chapter, they were welcomed into Egypt (Genesis 47:5–6). Their prosperity created resentment and fear, so welcome turned into slavery and oppression (Exodus 1:8–13). Their primary job seems to have been the hard labor associated with making and using bricks (Exodus 1:14). Now Moses has come, demanding that the Egyptian king let the slaves go into the wilderness for worship (Exodus 5:1–4). This request was denied.

Worse, Pharaoh summoned those in charge of the slaves to deliver a spiteful punishment (Exodus 5:8–9). He stops providing one of the basic components for bricks but demands the same production. This is a deliberate act of abuse; his purpose is to make the slaves work even harder and create an excuse for punishment (Exodus 5:14). This also gives Pharaoh a way to turn the slaves against Moses and Aaron (Exodus 5:21).

Pharaoh frames this as a command: the Hebrews are to find their own straw. Bricks in the ancient world were made of clay mixed with sand, stones, and fibers such as straw. Wet blocks were baked in the sun before use in construction. Mud, sand, and clay were relatively easy to find in Egypt thanks to the Nile and its connected waterways. Straw, however, is the leftover stem from harvested crops. This was not something found in abundance in Egypt. When this command is given, the people are literally scrambling around trying to get enough for their work (Exodus 5:12).

Exodus 5:1–14 describes the first encounter between Moses and Egypt's ruler, Pharaoh (Exodus 4:21–23). When Moses asks that Israel be released for a period of worship (Exodus 3:18), Pharaoh flatly refuses. In fact, he retaliates against the Hebrews by forcing them to make the same quota of bricks (Exodus 1:13–14) without being provided the usual raw materials. This is impossible; the cruel punishments which follow are exactly what Pharaoh intended with his spiteful command.

Moses and Aaron have their first meeting with Egypt's king, the pharaoh. Though they are there to free Israel entirely (Exodus 3:10), they begin with a much less dramatic request: three days to worship their God in the wilderness (Exodus 3:18). Pharaoh refuses. Instead, he spitefully cuts off supply of raw materials—straw—while demanding the same output from the Hebrew slaves. This increases the peoples' burden and gives Pharaoh's taskmasters excuse to abuse them. When the Israelites turn against Moses, he expresses confusion to God.

Moses encountered the Lord (Exodus 3:4–6) during his exile (Exodus 2:15). God commanded Moses to return to Egypt and demand the freedom of the nation of Israel (Exodus 4:21–23). The people had come into Egypt in the days of Joseph (Exodus 1:1–7). Later, they fell into slavery and oppression (Exodus 1:13–14). The first request, in this chapter, is not received well. God will soon bring disasters on Egypt and its stubborn ruler (Exodus 3:10) until His peo-ple are finally released (Exodus 12:41).

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.