Ye Shall No More Give the People Straw — Exodus 5:6–12

And the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,

Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves. And the number of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish aught thereof: for they are idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God. Let heavier work be laid upon the men, that they may labor therein; and let them not regard lying words.

And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spake to the people, saying,

Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw. Go yourselves, get you straw where ye can find it: for nought of your work shall be diminished.

So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw.