11 Go ye, get you straw where ye can find it: yet not ought of your work shall be diminished.
11 Go and get your own straw wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced at all.' "
11 Go and get your straw yourselves wherever you can find it, but your work will not be reduced in the least.'"
11 Get your own straw wherever you can find it. And not one brick less in your daily work quota!"
11 Go, get yourselves straw where you can find it; yet none of your work will be reduced.' "
11 Go and get it yourselves. Find it wherever you can. But you must produce just as many bricks as before!"
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 5:11
Commentary on Exodus 5:10-23
(Read Exodus 5:10-23)
The Egyptian task-masters were very severe. See what need we have to pray that we may be delivered from wicked men. The head-workmen justly complained to Pharaoh: but he taunted them. The malice of Satan has often represented the service and worship of God, as fit employment only for those who have nothing else to do, and the business only of the idle; whereas, it is the duty of those who are most busy in the world. Those who are diligent in doing sacrifice to the Lord, will, before God, escape the doom of the slothful servant, though with men they do not. The Israelites should have humbled themselves before God, and have taken to themselves the shame of their sin; but instead of that, they quarrel with those who were to be their deliverers. Moses returned to the Lord. He knew that what he had said and done, was by God's direction; and therefore appeals to him. When we find ourselves at any time perplexed in the way of our duty, we ought to go to God, and lay open our case before him by fervent prayer. Disappointments in our work must not drive us from our God, but still we must ponder why they are sent.