Exodus 5:12 - Bricks and Straw

Audio Bible

Context

Bricks and Straw
…11Go and get your own straw wherever you can find it; but your workload will in no way be reduced.’ ” 12So the people scattered all over the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. 13The taskmasters kept pressing them, saying, “Fulfill your quota each day, just as you did when straw was provided.”…

Cross References

Exodus 1:14
and made their lives bitter with hard labor in brick and mortar, and with all kinds of work in the fields. Every service they imposed was harsh.Exodus 2:23
After a long time, the king of Egypt died. The Israelites groaned and cried out under their burden of slavery, and their cry for deliverance from bondage ascended to God.Exodus 6:9
Moses relayed this message to the Israelites, but on account of their broken spirit and cruel bondage, they did not listen to him.Exodus 7:3-4
But I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, and though I will multiply My signs and wonders in the land of Egypt, / Pharaoh will not listen to you. Then I will lay My hand on Egypt, and by mighty acts of judgment I will bring the divisions of My people the Israelites out of the land of Egypt.Exodus 8:15
When Pharaoh saw that there was relief, however, he hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said.Exodus 9:7
Pharaoh sent officials and found that none of the livestock of the Israelites had died. But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not let the people go.Exodus 10:3
So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and told him, “This is what the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, says: ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before Me? Let My people go, so that they may worship Me.Exodus 11:9
The LORD said to Moses, “Pharaoh will not listen to you, so that My wonders may be multiplied in the land of Egypt.”Exodus 12:33
And in order to send them out of the land quickly, the Egyptians urged the people on. “For otherwise,” they said, “we are all going to die!”Exodus 14:5
When the king of Egypt was told that the people had fled, Pharaoh and his officials changed their minds about them and said, “What have we done? We have released Israel from serving us.”Exodus 15:9
The enemy declared, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake. I will divide the spoils; I will gorge myself on them. I will draw my sword; my hand will destroy them.’Exodus 18:8
Then Moses recounted to his father-in-law all that the LORD had done to Pharaoh and the Egyptians for Israel’s sake, all the hardships they had encountered along the way, and how the LORD had delivered them.Exodus 23:9
Do not oppress a foreign resident, since you yourselves know how it feels to be foreigners; for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.Exodus 34:21
Six days you shall labor, but on the seventh day you shall rest; even in the seasons of plowing and harvesting, you must rest.Deuteronomy 4:20
Yet the LORD has taken you and brought you out of the iron furnace, out of Egypt, to be the people of His inheritance, as you are today.

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Exodus 5

So the people scattered all over the land of Egypt
This phrase highlights the widespread impact of Pharaoh's decree, forcing the Israelites to disperse throughout Egypt. The scattering signifies a shift from their previous organized labor under Egyptian taskmasters to a more chaotic and desperate search for resources. This dispersion can be seen as a form of oppression, as it disrupts community and family structures. Historically, Egypt was a land of vast agricultural resources, but the Israelites' need to scatter indicates a scarcity imposed by Pharaoh's harsh demands. This scattering can also be seen as a precursor to the eventual Exodus, where the Israelites will leave Egypt entirely.

to gather stubble for straw
In ancient Egypt, straw was a crucial component in brick-making, providing the necessary binding material. By forcing the Israelites to gather stubble, Pharaoh increased their labor burden, as stubble is the leftover stalks after the harvest, less effective than straw. This reflects the increasing severity of their oppression. Theologically, this can be seen as a test of faith and endurance for the Israelites, paralleling other biblical narratives where God's people face trials. The gathering of stubble instead of straw symbolizes the futility and hardship of their labor under bondage, contrasting with the freedom and provision they will later experience in the Promised Land.

Persons / Places / Events

1. The Israelites
The descendants of Jacob, who were enslaved in Egypt and forced into hard labor by Pharaoh.

2. Pharaoh
The ruler of Egypt who refused to let the Israelites go and increased their burdens.

3. Moses and Aaron
God's chosen leaders to deliver the Israelites from slavery, who had just confronted Pharaoh.

4. Egypt
The land where the Israelites were enslaved, representing a place of bondage and oppression.

5. Stubble for Straw
The Israelites were forced to gather stubble because Pharaoh stopped providing straw for brick-making, increasing their workload.

Teaching Points

Understanding Oppression
Recognize that the Israelites' increased burdens were a direct result of Pharaoh's hardened heart. In our lives, we may face increased challenges when we are on the path of obedience to God.

God's Sovereignty in Trials
Even when circumstances seem to worsen, God is sovereign and working out His plan. Trust in His timing and purpose, as He ultimately delivers His people.

Faithfulness in Adversity
The Israelites' situation teaches us to remain faithful and diligent even when our tasks become more difficult. God sees our struggles and will provide deliverance.

The Cost of Disobedience
Pharaoh's refusal to obey God's command through Moses led to increased suffering for the Israelites. Disobedience to God can have far-reaching consequences.

Community Support
The Israelites had to work together to gather stubble, highlighting the importance of community and support during times of trial.

Lists and Questions

Top 10 Lessons from Exodus 5Exodus 5:7: How could the Israelites maintain the same brick quota without Egyptian-provided straw under harsh labor conditions? Deuteronomy 16:5-7: How do we reconcile sacrificing the Passover 'in the place the Lord chooses' with Exodus 12's instruction to kill the lamb at home?Exodus 12:40 - How do we reconcile the stated 430-year sojourn in Egypt with genealogies or other biblical timelines that seem shorter?What is the significance of the Passover Lamb?

(12) Stubble instead of straw.--Heb., stubble for the straw. Reaping in Egypt was effected by cutting off the ears only from the stalks, and thus a very tall stubble was left in the fields. This appears not to have been valued by the cultivators, and whoever wished was allowed to collect it. After collecting it, and bringing it to the brick-fields in bundles, they would have to chop it small before it would be fit for use.

Verse 12. - The people were mattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt. The expression used is hyperbolical, and not to be understood literally. A tolerably wide dispersion over the central and eastern portions of the Delta is probably intended. Stubble instead of straw. Rather, "stubble for the straw." Teben, the word translated straw, seems to he properly "chopped straw" (stramenta minutim concisa, Cook). The Israelites, who had been accustomed to have this provided for them, gathered now long stalks of stubble in the fields, which they had subsequently to make into teben by chopping it into short bits. Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

So the people
הָעָ֖ם (hā·‘ām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

scattered
וַיָּ֥פֶץ (way·yā·p̄eṣ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6327: To be dispersed or scattered

all over
בְּכָל־ (bə·ḵāl)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

the land
אֶ֣רֶץ (’e·reṣ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 776: Earth, land

of Egypt
מִצְרָ֑יִם (miṣ·rā·yim)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4714: Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africa

to gather
לְקֹשֵׁ֥שׁ (lə·qō·šêš)
Preposition-l | Verb - Piel - Infinitive construct
Strong's 7197: To forage for, straw, stubble, wood, to assemble

stubble
קַ֖שׁ (qaš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7179: Stubble, chaff

for straw.
לַתֶּֽבֶן׃ (lat·te·ḇen)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 8401: Material, refuse haum, stalks of grain

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Exodus 5:12 Catholic BibleOT Law: Exodus 5:12 So the people were scattered abroad throughout (Exo. Ex)