Exodus 5:1-23, NLT
Exodus 5
Moses and Aaron Speak to Pharaoh
1After this presentation to Israel’s leaders, Moses and Aaron went and spoke to Pharaoh. They told him, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Let my people go so they may hold a festival in my honor in the wilderness.”
2“Is that so?” retorted Pharaoh. “And who is the Lord? Why should I listen to him and let Israel go? I don’t know the Lord, and I will not let Israel go.”
3But Aaron and Moses persisted. “The God of the Hebrews has met with us,” they declared. “So let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness so we can offer sacrifices to the Lord our God. If we don’t, he will kill us with a plague or with the sword.”
4Pharaoh replied, “Moses and Aaron, why are you distracting the people from their tasks? Get back to work!
Making Bricks without Straw
6That same day Pharaoh sent this order to the Egyptian slave drivers and the Israelite foremen:
10So the slave drivers and foremen went out and told the people: “This is what Pharaoh says: I will not provide any more straw for you.
13Meanwhile, the Egyptian slave drivers continued to push hard. “Meet your daily quota of bricks, just as you did when we provided you with straw!” they demanded.
15So the Israelite foremen went to Pharaoh and pleaded with him. “Please don’t treat your servants like this,” they begged.
17But Pharaoh shouted, “You’re just lazy! Lazy! That’s why you’re saying, ‘Let us go and offer sacrifices to the Lord.’
19The Israelite foremen could see that they were in serious trouble when they were told, “You must not reduce the number of bricks you make each day.”
22Then Moses went back to the Lord and protested, “Why have you brought all this trouble on your own people, Lord? Why did you send me?