Exodus 5:8-12

But you shall impose on them the quota of bricks which they were making before; you are not to reduce any of it. Because they are lazy, for that reason they cry out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’

Let the labor be heavier on the men, and have them work at it so that they will pay no attention to false words.”

So the taskmasters of the people and their foremen went out and spoke to the people, saying, “This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I am not going to give you any straw.

You go, get straw for yourselves wherever you can find it; but none of your labor will be reduced.’ ”

So the people scattered through all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw.