3. And they said: "The God of the Hebrews has called us, so that we may go three days' journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to the Lord our God. Otherwise, a pestilence or the sword may befall us."
4. The king of Egypt said to them: "Why do you, Moses and Aaron, distract the people from their works? Go back to your burdens."
5. And Pharaoh said: "The people of the land are many. You see that the turmoil has increased: how much more if you give them rest from the works?"
6. Therefore, on the same day, he instructed the overseers of the works, and the taskmasters of the people, saying:
7. "You shall no longer give chaff to the people to form bricks, as before. But they may go and gather straw.
8. And you shall impose upon them the same quota of bricks that they made before. Neither will you lessen anything, for they are idle, and therefore they cry out, saying: 'We shall go and sacrifice to our God.'