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[An oversight, this chapter was not previously posted when we started the series on Torah books in 2014; we just discovered it was missing at this time while working on the current series of 2017 THE TORAH: Chapter by Chapter. So, all there is here is plain text from our official translation, Everett Fox—no commentary as yet but understandable and clear as is, for now. It is a crucial chapter, reflecting the stance of all those ignorant, just like pharaoh, of the One True God and His True Name, in this world full of gods of man’s making. A reminder from Scripture: The beginning of wisdom is reverence for God. –Proverbs 1:7. Be blessed this year with that knowledge by going back to basics, the foundational truths in the original Revelation by the Law-Giver and Giver of Life, His name is YHWH.—Admin1]
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1 Afterward Moshe and Aharon came and said to Pharaoh:
Thus says YHVH, the God of Israel:
Send free my people, that they may hold-a-festival to me in the wilderness!
Image from “Truth and Falsehood”, www.perankhgroup.com
2 Pharaoh said:
Who is YHVH, that I should hearken to his voice to send Israel free?
I do not know YHVH,
moreover, Israel I will not send free!
3 They said:
The God of the Hebrews has met with us;
pray let us go a three days’ journey into the wilderness,
and let us slaughter (offerings) to YHVH our God,
lest he confront us with the pestilence or the sword!
4 The king of Egypt said to them:
For-what-reason, Moshe and Aharon,
would you let the people loose from their tasks?
Go back to your burdens!
5 Pharaoh said:
Here, too many now are the people of the land,
and you would have them cease from their burdens!
6 So that day Pharaoh commanded the slave-drivers of the people and its officers, saying:
7 You are no longer to give straw to the people to make the bricks as yesterday and the day-before;
let it be them that go and gather straw for themselves!
8 But the (same) measure of bricks that they have been making, yesterday and the day-before. you are to impose on them,
you are not to subtract from it!
For they are lax-
therefore they cry out, saying: Let us go, let us slaughter (offerings) to our God!
9 Let the servitude weigh-heavily on the men!
They shall have to do it, so that they pay no more regard to false words!
10 The slave-drivers of the people and its officers went out
and said to the people, saying:
Thus says Pharaoh:
I will not give you straw:
11 You go, get yourselves straw, wherever you can find (it),
indeed, not one (load) is to be subtracted from your servitude!
12 The people scattered throughout all the land of Egypt,
gathering stubble-gatherings for straw.
13 But the slave-drivers pressed them hard, saying:
Finish your tasks, each-day’s work-load in its day, as when there was straw!
14 And the officers of the Children of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s slave-drivers had set over them, were beaten,
they said (to them):
For-what-reason have you not finished baking your allocation as yesterday and the day-before,
so yesterday, so today?
15 The officers of the Children of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying:
Why do you do thus to your servants?
16 No straw is being given to your servants, and as for bricks-they say to us, Make (them)!
Here, your servants are being beaten, and the fault is your people’s!
17 But he said:
Lax you are, lax,
therefore you say: Let us go, let us slaughter (offerings) to YHVH-
18 so now, go-serve;
no straw will be given to you,
and the full-measure in bricks you must give back!
19 The officers of the Children of Israel saw that they were in an ill-plight,
having to say: Do not subtract from your bricks each-day’s work-load in its day!
20 They confronted Moshe and Aharon, stationing themselves to meet them when they came out from Pharaoh,
21 they said to them:
May YHVH see you and judge,
for having made our smell reek in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of his servants,
giving a sword into their hand, to kill us!
22 Moshe returned to YHVH and said:
My Lord,
for-what-reason have you dealt so ill with this people?
For-what-reason have you sent me?
23 Since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has dealt only ill with this people,
and rescued-you have not rescued your people!
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