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ISRAELITES IN THE BRICKYARDS OF EGYPT

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description: # ISRAELITES IN THE BRICKYARDS OF EGYPT ## Overview This entity is a chapter titled *ISRAELITES IN THE BRICKYARDS OF EGYPT*, extracted from a larger text document. It spans lines 555 to 599 of the source file and covers content across pages 84 to 91 of the original publication. The chapter is part of the [More Classics](arke:01KFXT0KM64XT6K8W52TDEE0YS) collection and is divided into three smaller text segments known as chunks: [Chunk 1](arke:01KFXVBJG45J5XRXH6FJTV0R6K), [Chunk 2](arke:01KFXVBJF763JZVY9DEM201FNK), and [Chunk 3](arke:01KFXVBJF6XCZ03M5W2ZKV114F). It was processed and structured on January 26, 2026, by an automated system. ## Context The chapter is situated within a historical and religious educational text, likely aimed at younger readers, discussing the biblical narrative of the Israelites' enslavement in Egypt. It references the Book of Exodus and draws connections between scriptural accounts and archaeological findings from ancient Egypt, particularly from the nineteenth dynasty. The text cites an Egyptian papyrus and depictions from a temple at Thebes to support its claims, emphasizing the historical reliability of the Bible. It forms part of a broader effort to affirm scriptural truth through contemporary archaeological research. ## Contents The chapter details the harsh labor imposed on the Hebrews, particularly brick-making without straw, and describes the administrative structure of Egyptian taskmasters and Israelite overseers. It explains that straw was withheld by Pharaoh to increase productivity demands, forcing Hebrews to gather stubble after the grain harvest. Scholars note this occurred during a 50-day period marked by unhealthy sand winds, intensifying their suffering. The text highlights the Israelites' despair, including their rebuke of Moses and Aaron for worsening their plight. Three concluding reflections are offered: the Hebrews gained practical skills later used in Canaan; Egyptian oppression ultimately served God’s plan by motivating departure; and modern archaeology confirms the historical accuracy of biblical accounts, strengthening faith amid skepticism.
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description_title: ISRAELITES IN THE BRICKYARDS OF EGYPT
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text: 390 ISRAELITES IN THE BRICKYARDS OF EGYPT  391 ^{}[]  392 71 393 394 “Ah! just the thing I feared. They want to get away out of the land,” although this three days’ journey would not have implied crossing its borders. Accordingly he made the orders more rigorous. Straw was not to be given. The brick-makers must find it, and at the same time produce the same “tale of bricks” as before. There were two classes of officers over them, showing how well organized the system had become. There were, first, the taskmasters, apparently of two classes, one above the other, the latter called overseers; then there were “officers of the children of Israel” (v. 14), held responsible no doubt for “the tale of bricks.” In a papyrus of the nineteenth dynasty the writer complains, “I have no one to help me in making bricks, no straw.” The poor Hebrews had to roam over the land to get stubble. Here the scholars have made out two things which it is enough to state as results without trying our young readers with the process. The first is that this work would  395 72 396 397 be done after the harvest, the Egyptians then as now cutting off the ears, not the stalks of the grain. The second is that this period of the year, running over fifty days, is often most unhealthy, a pestilential sand wind blowing over the land. We can fancy their sufferings. 398 399 Still the orders were for the full “tale” as when they had straw, but filled up they could not be. What then? The overseer, according to a representation of the whole plan found in a temple at Thebes, is armed with a heavy lash, and cries out, “Work without fainting.” The lash was laid on the Hebrew officers, who remonstrated and (v. 14) appealed to Pharaoh in vain. The order was renewed, the straw was still withheld, and the charge was made that their plea about sacrificing to Jehovah was only a pretence, “Ye are idle, ye are idle” (v. 17). So Egypt became emphatically the “land of bondage” to Israel, and—showing how hard it is to interfere between the oppressed and the oppressor—the Hebrew officers say to  400 73 401 402 Moses and Aaron in effect: “Why, look at what you have done! The Lord look upon you and judge. Instead of getting us relief, you have made our case worse than ever.” It is a curious illustration of the simple truthfulness of the Bible story that it has the language which we now know from other quarters was common at the time. For instance, an Egyptian of rank who had a secretary to write his history thus berates the unhappy scribe: “Thou hast made my name offensive, stinking, to all men.” Read Exodus, v. 21, and you will see the point. 403 404 We have now seen the condition of the toiling Hebrews in the years before they were set free. One or two things naturally suggested may be briefly indicated: 405 406 1. The Hebrews learned something that was of use to them no doubt when they had to settle in Palestine. In the time of David they had brickkilns (2 Sam. xii. 31), and they forced on the Ammonites the very labors through  407 74 408 409 which their fathers had gone, let us hope with less severity. 410 411 2. God brings good out of evil. Goshen was the most inviting and fertile part of Egypt, so if all had gone smoothly with the Hebrews they would not have wished to carry out God's plan. Of this there is evidence enough. This Egyptian cruelty alienated them from the Egyptians, and made them willing to go. 412 413 3. Few things of the kind are more remarkable than the confirmation of Bible history given by the researches of our own time in the lands of the Old Testament. Egypt, Assyria, and other lands are being explored, their monuments are being studied, their inscriptions are being translated, their manners and usages are being depicted, and the more we have of the results the clearer does it appear that the Scriptures are true to the truth of things in matters little and great as things existed when they were written. The outside evidence of the historic exactness of the books of Genesis and Exodus, for ex-  414 75 415 ample, is vastly fuller and clearer to-day than when the New Testament was written. With many temptations to unbelief around us, we should be thankful for this aid to faith. 416 417 5  418 BLANK PAGE
title: ISRAELITES IN THE BRICKYARDS OF EGYPT

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Version: 3
Created: 1/26/2026
Updated: 1/26/2026
Edited by: Description Service