7 Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves.
7 "You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks; let them go and gather their own straw.
7 "You shall no longer give the people straw to make bricks, as in the past; let them go and gather straw for themselves.
7 "Don't provide straw for the people for making bricks as you have been doing. Make them get their own straw.
7 "You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves.
7 "Do not supply any more straw for making bricks. Make the people get it themselves!
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 5:7
Commentary on Exodus 5:1-9
(Read Exodus 5:1-9)
God will own his people, though poor and despised, and will find a time to plead their cause. Pharaoh treated all he had heard with contempt. He had no knowledge of Jehovah, no fear of him, no love to him, and therefore refused to obey him. Thus Pharaoh's pride, ambition, covetousness, and political knowledge, hardened him to his own destruction. What Moses and Aaron ask is very reasonable, only to go three days' journey into the desert, and that on a good errand. We will sacrifice unto the Lord our God. Pharaoh was very unreasonable, in saying that the people were idle, and therefore talked of going to sacrifice. He thus misrepresents them, that he might have a pretence to add to their burdens. To this day we find many who are more disposed to find fault with their neighbours, for spending in the service of God a few hours spared from their wordly business, than to blame others, who give twice the time to sinful pleasures. Pharaoh's command was barbarous. Moses and Aaron themselves must get to the burdens. Persecutors take pleasure in putting contempt and hardship upon ministers. The usual tale of bricks must be made, without the usual allowance of straw to mix with the clay. Thus more work was to be laid upon the men, which, if they performed, they would be broken with labour; and if not, they would be punished.