And the taskmasters hasted them, saying, Fulfil your works, your daily tasks, as when there was straw.
The slave drivers rushed them along, saying, 'Complete your work, finish your daily quota just like you did when you had straw.'
The Egyptian slave drivers were demanding the Israelites maintain the same impossible work output even after their supplies were taken away.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of Exodus, the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt and forced to make bricks for Pharaoh's building projects, enduring harsh labor as part of their oppression. When Moses and Aaron approached Pharaoh to demand the release of the Israelites so they could worship God, he responded by increasing their burdens, including stopping the supply of straw for brick-making while still requiring the same daily quotas. This verse specifically shows the Egyptian taskmasters pressuring the slaves to maintain their work pace despite the added hardship of gathering their own straw.
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