KJV ORIGINAL
And the taskmasters hasted them, saying, Fulfil your works, your daily tasks, as when there was straw.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
The slave drivers rushed them along, saying, 'Complete your work—finish your daily quota just like you did when you had straw.'
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
The Egyptian slave drivers were demanding the Israelites maintain the same impossible work output even after their supplies were taken away.
📚 Historical Context
This verse occurs during the Israelites' slavery in Egypt, after Moses had asked Pharaoh to let the people go worship God. In retaliation, Pharaoh made their work harder by refusing to provide straw for making bricks while still demanding the same production quota. The taskmasters were Egyptian overseers who enforced Pharaoh's cruel labor policies.
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