Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does Exodus 5:11 mean?
A: In Exodus 5:11, Pharaoh cruelly commands the Israelite slaves to gather their own straw for making bricks, while still requiring them to meet the same daily quota. Rashi explains that this was an oppressive tactic to make their labor even harder, as straw was a necessary binding agent for bricks. The verse shows Pharaoh's harshness and the suffering of the Israelites before the Exodus.
Q: Why is Exodus 5:11 important?
A: This verse is important because it demonstrates the extreme oppression the Israelites faced in Egypt, setting the stage for their redemption. The Midrash (Shemot Rabbah 5:18) notes that this additional hardship was part of the 'iron furnace' of Egypt (Deuteronomy 4:20), refining the Jewish people and preparing them for receiving the Torah.
Q: What lesson can we learn from Exodus 5:11 today?
A: The verse teaches us about perseverance in difficult circumstances. Just as the Israelites continued their service to Hashem despite Pharaoh's cruelty, we learn from the Talmud (Berachot 5a) that challenges can elevate a person's spiritual growth. The bricks they made under these conditions later became the foundation for their redemption.
Q: How does Exodus 5:11 relate to Jewish history?
A: This verse marks a turning point in Jewish history where oppression intensified before redemption. The Rambam (Hilchot Teshuvah 9:2) explains that sometimes difficulties increase before salvation comes, as we see throughout Jewish history - the darkest moments often precede deliverance, just as the night is darkest before dawn.
Q: Why did Pharaoh make the Israelites find their own straw?
A: According to traditional Jewish sources, Pharaoh did this to break the Israelites' spirit and keep them too busy to think about freedom. The Kli Yakar explains that by making them scavenge for straw, he wanted to occupy all their time and energy. This reflects a common tactic of oppressors who try to crush hope through overwhelming labor.
Context in Shemot (Exodus)
The verse (Shemot 5:11) appears in the narrative where Pharaoh increases the oppression of Bnei Yisrael by requiring them to gather their own straw for brick-making while maintaining the same production quota. This cruel decree was part of Pharaoh's strategy to break their spirit.
Rashi's Explanation
Rashi (Shemot 5:11) explains that Pharaoh's command was intentionally impossible to fulfill. The phrase "אֵין נִגְרָע מֵעֲבֹדַתְכֶם דָּבָר" ("nothing of your work shall be diminished") means the Israelite slaves were still expected to produce the same number of bricks daily, despite now having to spend time gathering straw. This was a calculated act of oppression to crush their morale.
Ibn Ezra's Insight
Ibn Ezra notes that Pharaoh's decree removed the straw that was previously provided, forcing Bnei Yisrael to scavenge for it themselves. The phrase "מֵאֲשֶׁר תִּמְצָאוּ" ("wherever you can find it") implies they would have to search extensively, wasting precious time and energy.
Midrashic Interpretation
The Midrash (Shemot Rabbah 5:18) elaborates that this was one of three oppressive decrees Pharaoh enacted:
Halachic Perspective
Rambam (Hilchos Avadim 1:7) derives from this episode that excessive work demands constitute oppression. While servitude has halachic parameters, this type of unreasonable burden crosses into cruelty, which Torah law prohibits.
Spiritual Lesson
The Kli Yakar emphasizes that Pharaoh's tactic represents how evil regimes attempt to break a people's spirit through impossible demands. The verse thus becomes a prototype of Jewish perseverance in the face of oppression, foreshadowing the eventual redemption.