Tidings of them and of the interest they were exciting among the people had already reached the king. His anger was kindled. "Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let [hinder] the people from their works?" he said. "Get you unto your burdens." Already the kingdom had suffered loss by the interference of these strangers. At thought of this he added, "Behold, the people of the 258 land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens."

Der var allerede gået meddelelse til kongen om dem og den interesse, de havde vakt hos folket. Han blev vred. "Hvorfor vil I, Moses og Aron, forstyrre folket i dets arbejde?" sagde han. "Gå til Eders trællearbejde!" Nationen havde allerede lidt tab på grund af disse fremmedes indblanding. Ved tanken herom tilføjede kongen: "Folket er så vist dovent nok; og nu vil I have dem fri fra deres trællearbejde!"