And the taskmasters of the people went out,.... From the presence of Pharaoh, out of his court, to the respective places where they were set to see that the Israelites did their work: and their officers; the officers of the Israelites, who were under the taskmasters, and answerable to them for the work of the people, and their tale of bricks: and they spake to the people, saying, thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw; that is, any longer, as he had used to do.