Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does Exodus 5:12 mean when it says the people gathered 'stubble for straw'?
A: This verse describes how the Jewish slaves in Egypt were forced to scatter across the land to gather stubble (the leftover stalks after harvest) to use as straw for making bricks. Rashi explains that Pharaoh cruelly increased their workload by no longer providing straw, forcing them to spend extra time gathering materials while still meeting the same brick quota.
Q: Why was gathering stubble such a difficult task for the Israelites?
A: According to the Midrash (Shemot Rabbah 5:18), gathering stubble was especially hard because: 1) It required traveling far distances across Egypt, 2) Stubble doesn't bind well for brick-making, making their work ineffective, and 3) They still had to meet the same daily quota of bricks. This was part of Pharaoh's plan to break their spirit through excessive labor.
Q: What lesson can we learn from Exodus 5:12 about oppression?
A: The Rambam (Hilchos Avadim 1:6) derives from this verse that oppressing workers by giving impossible tasks violates Jewish ethics. Even though this happened in Egypt, the Torah records it to teach us proper treatment of laborers. The verse shows how oppression often starts with small, incremental increases in hardship.
Q: How does Exodus 5:12 connect to the larger Exodus story?
A: This verse marks the beginning of increased persecution leading to redemption. The Talmud (Sotah 11a) explains that when Pharaoh saw the Jews multiplying despite hard labor, he devised this extra hardship. Ironically, these very oppressions (like gathering stubble) led to the Israelites crying out to Hashem, beginning the process of their salvation.
Q: Why does the Torah mention this detail about straw and bricks?
A: The Netziv (Ha'amek Davar) explains that recording these specific hardships serves two purposes: 1) To show the extent of Egyptian cruelty - they denied even basic materials for slave labor, and 2) To highlight Jewish resilience - the people still scattered everywhere to try fulfilling the impossible demands, showing their determination to survive.
Context in Shemot (Exodus)
The verse (Shemot 5:12) describes the intensified oppression of Bnei Yisrael in Mitzrayim after Pharaoh's decree that they must gather their own straw for brick-making while maintaining the same production quota. This was a cruel tactic to break their spirits.
Rashi's Explanation
Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) comments that the phrase "ויפץ העם" ("the people were scattered") emphasizes how the Israelites were forced to disperse widely across Egypt to search for stubble ("קש") since straw was no longer provided to them. This scattering made their labor even more burdensome, as they had to cover great distances to gather materials while still meeting Pharaoh's impossible demands.
Ibn Ezra's Insight
Ibn Ezra adds that the Egyptians deliberately withheld straw to inflict greater suffering. The term "לקושש" ("to gather") implies a desperate, time-consuming scavenging—like gleaning sparse leftovers from harvested fields—rather than organized collection.
Midrashic Interpretation (Shemot Rabbah)
The Midrash (Shemot Rabbah 5:14) highlights the psychological torment: Pharaoh aimed to crush Bnei Yisrael by forcing them into futile labor. The scattering also prevented unity, making it harder for them to organize or resist. This aligns with the Torah's earlier warning (Shemot 1:10) that Pharaoh feared their cohesion.
Halachic Perspective (Rambam)
Rambam (Hilchot Avadim 1:7) cites this episode as an example of oppressive labor conditions forbidden by Torah law. Even though Bnei Yisrael were technically enslaved, the Torah later condemns such cruelty, teaching that exploitation degrades human dignity.
Symbolism of "Stubble for Straw"