Keluaran 1:14

1:14 They made their lives bitter ¹  by ²  hard service with mortar and bricks and by all kinds of service ³  in the fields. Every kind of service the Israelites were required to give was rigorous. ⁴ 

Keluaran 1:2

1:2 Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah,

1 Samuel 12:1

12:1 Samuel said to all Israel, “I have done ⁵  everything you requested. ⁶  I have given you a king. ⁷ 

Nahum 3:14

3:14 Draw yourselves water for a siege! ⁸ 

Strengthen your fortifications!

Trample the mud ⁹  and tread the clay!

Make mud bricks to strengthen your walls! ¹⁰ 

[1:14]  ¹ sn The verb מָרַר (marar) anticipates the introduction of the theme of bitterness in the instructions for the Passover.

[1:14]  ² tn The preposition bet (ב) in this verse has the instrumental use: “by means of” (see GKC 380 §119.o).

[1:14]  ³ tn Heb “and in all service.”

[1:14]  ⁴ tn The line could be more literally translated, “All their service in which they served them [was] with rigor.” This takes the referent of בָּהֶם (bahem) to be the Egyptians. The pronoun may also resume the reference to the kinds of service and so not be needed in English: “All their service in which they served [was] with rigor.”

[12:1]  ⁵ tn Heb “Look, I have listened to your voice.”

[12:1]  ⁶ tn Heb “to all which you said to me.”

[12:1]  ⁷ tn Heb “and I have installed a king over you.”

[3:14]  ⁸ tn Heb “waters of siege.”

[3:14]  ⁹ tn Heb “go into the mud.”

[3:14]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “Take hold of the mud-brick mold!”