Exodus 5:14

5:14 The Israelite foremen whom Pharaoh’s slave masters had set over them were beaten and were asked, 1  “Why did you not complete your requirement for brickmaking as in the past – both yesterday and today?” 2 

Exodus 23:16

23:16 “You are also to observe 3  the Feast of Harvest, the firstfruits of your labors that you have sown in the field, and the Feast of Ingathering at the end of the year 4  when you have gathered in 5  your harvest 6  out of the field.

Exodus 25:35

25:35 with a bud under the first 7  two branches from it, and a bud under the next 8  two branches from it, and a bud under the third 9  two branches from it, according to the six branches that extend from the lampstand.

1 tn The quotation is introduced with the common word לֵאמֹר (le’mor, “saying”) and no mention of who said the question.

2 sn The idioms for time here are found also in 3:10 and 5:7-8. This question no doubt represents many accusations shouted at Israelites during the period when it was becoming obvious that, despite all their efforts, they were unable to meet their quotas as before.

3 tn The words “you are also to observe” are not in the Hebrew text, but are supplied in the translation for stylistic reasons.

4 tn An infinitive construct with a preposition and a pronominal suffix is used to make a temporal clause: “in the going in of the year.” The word “year” is the subjective genitive, the subject of the clause.

5 tn An infinitive construct with a preposition and a pronominal suffix is used to make a temporal clause: “in the ingathering of you.”

6 tn Heb “gathered in your labors.” This is a metonymy of cause put for the effect. “Labors” are not gathered in, but what the labors produced – the harvest.

7 tn For clarity the phrase “the first” has been supplied.

8 tn For clarity the phrase “the next” has been supplied.

9 tn For clarity the phrase “the third” has been supplied.