This order produced great distress among the Israelites throughout the land. The Egyptian taskmasters had appointed Hebrew officers to oversee the work of the people, and these officers were responsible for the labor performed by those under their charge. When the requirement of the king was put in force, the people scattered themselves throughout the land, to gather stubble instead of straw; but they found it impossible to accomplish the usual amount of labor. For this failure the Hebrew officers were cruelly beaten.

Det almindeligste byggemateriale i dette land var soltørrede teglsten. De fineste bygninger var lavet af dette materiale og derefter beklædt med sten, og et stort antal slaver var beskæftiget med fremstillingen af teglsten. Leret blev blandet med strå for at holde sammen på det, og derfor krævedes der store mængder strå til arbejdet. Nu bestemte kongen, at der ikke mere skulle leveres strå. Arbejderne skulle selv finde det, men der skulle fremstilles samme antal sten.