share torah logo

Exodus 5:16 - Oppression reveals Pharaoh's cruelty

Exodus 5:16 - שמות 5:16

Hebrew Text

תֶּבֶן אֵין נִתָּן לַעֲבָדֶיךָ וּלְבֵנִים אֹמְרִים לָנוּ עֲשׂוּ וְהִנֵּה עֲבָדֶיךָ מֻכִּים וְחָטָאת עַמֶּךָ׃

English Translation

There is no straw given to thy servants, and they say to us, Make bricks: and, behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault is in thy own people.

Transliteration

Teven ein nitan la'avadecha ulevanim omrim lanu asu vehine avadecha mukim vechatat amecha.

Hebrew Leining Text

תֶּ֗בֶן אֵ֤ין נִתָּן֙ לַעֲבָדֶ֔יךָ וּלְבֵנִ֛ים אֹמְרִ֥ים לָ֖נוּ עֲשׂ֑וּ וְהִנֵּ֧ה עֲבָדֶ֛יךָ מֻכִּ֖ים וְחָטָ֥את עַמֶּֽךָ׃
תֶּ֗בֶן אֵ֤ין נִתָּן֙ לַעֲבָדֶ֔יךָ וּלְבֵנִ֛ים אֹמְרִ֥ים לָ֖נוּ עֲשׂ֑וּ וְהִנֵּ֧ה עֲבָדֶ֛יךָ מֻכִּ֖ים וְחָטָ֥את עַמֶּֽךָ׃

🎵 Listen to leining

Parasha Commentary

Context in Shemot (Exodus)

The verse appears in Shemot 5:16, where the Israelite foremen protest to Pharaoh about the impossible demands placed upon them. Previously, Pharaoh had commanded that the Israelites must gather their own straw for brick-making while maintaining the same production quota (5:7-8). The foremen argue that this unjust treatment leads to their people being beaten despite their innocence.

Rashi's Commentary

Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) explains that the foremen emphasize the injustice by stating, "וחטאת עמך" ("but the fault is in your own people"). He interprets this as meaning that the Egyptian taskmasters—Pharaoh’s people—are the ones at fault for the Israelites' inability to meet quotas, not the Israelites themselves. The foremen argue that the beatings are unjust because the lack of straw makes the task impossible.

Rambam (Maimonides) on Justice

Rambam (Hilchot Sanhedrin 20:1) discusses the prohibition of imposing unreasonable burdens on workers. This verse illustrates a violation of that principle, as Pharaoh’s decree forced the Israelites to produce bricks without providing necessary materials. The foremen’s protest aligns with Torah law, which demands fairness in labor.

Midrashic Interpretation

The Midrash Tanchuma (Shemot 9) elaborates that Pharaoh’s cruelty was a deliberate tactic to break the Israelites’ spirit. By withholding straw yet demanding the same output, he sought to justify harsh punishments. The foremen’s plea highlights the Egyptians’ moral failing ("וחטאת עמך"), implying that oppression itself is a sin.

Ibn Ezra’s Linguistic Insight

Ibn Ezra notes the phrasing "תבן אין נתן" ("there is no straw given") rather than "you did not give straw." This passive construction suggests systemic neglect—straw was no longer being supplied by the Egyptian overseers, not merely withheld by Pharaoh alone. The foremen thus place blame on the entire Egyptian system of oppression.

Halachic Implications

  • Workers' Rights: The verse underscores the Torah’s emphasis on fair labor conditions, later codified in Choshen Mishpat (333:3), which prohibits unreasonable demands.
  • Moral Responsibility: The foremen’s protest reflects the principle that leaders bear accountability for their people’s suffering (Rambam, Hilchot De'ot 6:1).

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Sotah 11b
The verse is referenced in the context of discussing the hardships endured by the Israelites in Egypt, particularly focusing on the cruelty of Pharaoh's decrees and the suffering of the Israelite slaves.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does Exodus 5:16 mean in the context of the Jewish people in Egypt?
A: This verse describes the suffering of the Jewish slaves in Egypt. The Egyptian taskmasters stopped providing straw for making bricks but still demanded the same quota of bricks. When the Jewish slaves couldn't meet this impossible demand, they were beaten. The verse shows Pharaoh's cruelty and the beginning of the Jewish people crying out to Hashem for salvation.
Q: Why is this verse important in Jewish tradition?
A: This verse is important because it marks a turning point where the Jewish people begin to recognize their oppression and cry out against it. According to Rashi, this complaint to Pharaoh was actually directed toward Hashem, showing how the Jewish people started turning to divine help. It sets the stage for the Exodus story where Hashem hears their cries and redeems them.
Q: What lesson can we learn from Exodus 5:16 today?
A: The verse teaches us about the importance of recognizing injustice and having the courage to speak up against oppression. The Midrash teaches that the Jewish people's willingness to protest their unfair treatment showed they hadn't completely accepted their slave mentality. This teaches us to stand up for what's right, even in difficult circumstances.
Q: How does Rashi explain the phrase 'but the fault is in thy own people'?
A: Rashi explains that the Jewish slaves were telling Pharaoh that the fault for the brick shortage lay with the Egyptian taskmasters who stopped providing straw. The slaves were innocent of wrongdoing, while the Egyptians were guilty of creating impossible working conditions. This shows the Jewish people beginning to assert their dignity despite being enslaved.
Q: Why did Pharaoh make the Jews find their own straw for bricks?
A: According to the Talmud (Sotah 11b), Pharaoh increased the Jews' workload to break their spirit and prevent them from having time to think about freedom. The Midrash explains this was one of three strategies Pharaoh used against the Jews (hard labor, drowning babies, and depriving them of straw). This cruel tactic ultimately failed as it caused the Jews to cry out to Hashem.