That same day Pharaoh commanded ¹  the slave masters and foremen ²  who were ³  over the people: ⁴ 

The slave masters were pressuring ¹  them, saying, “Complete ²  your work for each day, just like when there was straw!”

The Lord said, “I have surely seen ¹  the affliction of my people who are in Egypt. I have heard their cry because of their taskmasters, for I know their sorrows. ² 

So the slave masters of the people and their foremen went to the Israelites and said, ¹  “Thus says Pharaoh: ‘I am not giving ²  you straw.

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