Afterwards Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, "This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says:`Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the desert.'"
Then they said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Now let us take a three-day journey into the desert to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God, or he may strike us with plagues or with the sword."
But require them to make the same number of bricks as before; don't reduce the quota. They are lazy; that is why they are crying out,`Let us go and sacrifice to our God.'
The Israelite foremen appointed by Pharaoh's slave drivers were beaten and were asked, "Why didn't you meet your quota of bricks yesterday or today, as before?"
and they said, "May the LORD look upon you and judge you! You have made us a stench to Pharaoh and his officials and have put a sword in their hand to kill us."