And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.
Tale - an appointed number of bricks. The materials of their labour were to be no longer supplied; and yet, as the same amount of produce was exacted daily, it is impossible to imagine more aggravated cruelty-a more perfect specimen of Oriental despotism.