Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does Exodus 5:7 mean when it says Pharaoh stopped giving straw for bricks?
A: In Exodus 5:7, Pharaoh cruelly increases the Israelites' burden by no longer providing straw for making bricks, forcing them to gather it themselves while maintaining the same quota. Rashi explains that this was a deliberate tactic to oppress them further and break their spirit before the Exodus.
Q: Why was straw important for making bricks in ancient Egypt?
A: Straw was a key binding agent in Egyptian brick-making—it strengthened the clay and prevented cracking when dried. The Midrash (Shemot Rabbah 5:18) notes that without straw, the Israelites had to scavenge for stubble (kotz) instead, making their work even harder.
Q: How does Pharaoh's command in Exodus 5:7 show his cruelty?
A: Pharaoh's order demonstrates calculated cruelty by adding impossible demands: Rambam (Hilchos Avadim 1:7) cites this as an example of unjust oppression, where slaves are given no means to meet quotas. The Talmud (Sotah 11b) also describes this as part of Pharaoh's psychological warfare against Bnei Yisrael.
Q: What lesson can we learn from the Israelites having to gather their own straw?
A: This teaches about resilience in hardship. The Seforno notes that this suffering was a necessary step to make the Israelites yearn for redemption. Today, it reminds us that struggles can prepare us for greater purposes, as the Exodus narrative later reveals.
Q: Did the Israelites actually make bricks without straw after this command?
A: Yes, but with great difficulty. The Torah (Exodus 5:12) states they scattered to gather stubble instead. Mechilta de-Rabbi Yishmael describes how they were beaten for failing to meet quotas, showing Pharaoh's impossible demands were meant to crush them physically and morally.
Context in Exodus
The verse (Exodus 5:7) describes Pharaoh's cruel decree to intensify the oppression of the Israelites by forcing them to gather their own straw for brick-making while maintaining the same production quotas. This was a deliberate escalation of their suffering.
Rashi's Explanation
Rashi explains that straw was a necessary binding agent for the clay bricks. Previously, the Egyptians provided straw, but now Pharaoh commanded that the Israelites must scavenge for it themselves while still meeting their daily brick quotas. Rashi notes this as an example of Pharaoh's increasing harshness.
Ibn Ezra's Insight
Ibn Ezra observes that this decree was particularly cruel because:
Midrashic Interpretation
The Midrash (Shemot Rabbah 5:18) explains that this decree came after Moses and Aaron first approached Pharaoh. Seeing the Israelite leaders gaining confidence, Pharaoh sought to crush their hopes by increasing their burden. The Midrash compares this to a master who, when he sees his slave gaining confidence, increases his workload to subdue him.
Halachic Perspective
Rambam (Hilchot Avadim 1:6) cites this verse when discussing the Torah's laws about proper treatment of servants, contrasting Pharaoh's cruelty with the Torah's requirement that masters treat servants with dignity and compassion.
Spiritual Lesson
The Sforno explains that this episode demonstrates how oppression often escalates gradually. What began as forced labor (Exodus 1:11) progressed to this point where even basic materials were withheld. This teaches that tyranny must be resisted at its earliest stages.