3. Then Aaron and Moses said, “The God of the Hebrews has talked with us. Now let us travel three days into the desert. There we will offer sacrifices to the Lord our God. If we don’t do this, he may kill us with a disease or in war.”
4. But the king said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their work? Go back to your hard work!
5. There are very many Hebrews. And now you want them to quit their hard work!”
6. That same day the king gave a command to the slave masters and foremen.
7. He said, “Don’t give the people straw to make bricks as you used to do. Let them gather their own straw.