Welcome to my Hebrew reading & language series.
Exodus 5:10-19
Last week, we started a new chapter in Exodus and we saw Moshe (Moses) going to Fare'oh (Pharaoh) saying he must let the people go in order to worship their God in the wilderness. As predicted Pharaoh told them they cannot do that.
The assumption was that the forced labor servants have had way too much time on their hands. They surely need more work so they do not come up with ideas like that again. His orders are still being talked about in today's reading.
The Hebrews are now being maltreated for not producing the same amount of bricks while having to go find their own straw. They are being told that it is the fault of their own people, likely referring to Moshe and Aharon (Aaron) because they had got to speak to Pharaoh. The Sho-t'rey (Adminsistrators) of the Hebrews knew they were b'rah (in trouble) when they realized that the number of brick would have to be the same even though the work process had been made more difficult.
Moshe will be speaking to God about this horrible turn of events next week.
Today's reading
English
So the taskmasters and the foremen of the people went out and said to the people, "Thus says Pharaoh, 'I will not give you straw. Go and get your straw yourselves wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced in the least.'" So the people were scattered throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. The taskmasters were urgent, saying, "Complete your work, your daily task each day, as when there was straw." And the foremen of the people of Israel, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, "Why have you not done all your task of making bricks today and yesterday, as in the past?"
Then the foremen of the people of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, "Why do you treat your servants like this? No straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, 'Make bricks!' And behold, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people." But he said, "You are idle, you are idle; that is why you say, 'Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.' Go now and work. No straw will be given you, but you must still deliver the same number of bricks." The foremen of the people of Israel saw that they were in trouble when they said, "You shall by no means reduce your number of bricks, your daily task each day."
Hebrew
Next week continues with Moshe talking to God...
Info on each letter starting at the beginning
If you are just starting, my lessons are all here starting at Alef, adding vowels (the dots and lines) as we go. I explain the meaning of each letter and its numerical value. Just go to my blog and scroll to the bottom or click here
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Thanks for reading.
