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

They will eat the meat the same night; they will eat it roasted over the fire with bread made without yeast and with bitter herbs.

Isn't this what we told you in Egypt, 'Leave us alone so that we can serve the Egyptians, because it is better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!'"

Then they came to Marah, but they were not able to drink the waters of Marah, because they were bitter. (That is why its name was Marah.)

He took the calf they had made and burned it in the fire, ground it to powder, poured it out on the water, and made the Israelites drink it.