Exodus 5:5

Exo 5:5 And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now [are] many, and ye make them rest from their burdens.

Ver. 5. The people of the land now are many. ] Et nihil agendo male agere discent. Iphicrates never suffered his soldiers to be out of employment; but, if out of military services, he set them to dig or lop trees or carry burdens, &c., to keep them from rebelling or worse doing. a

a η ορυττειν, η ταφρευειν, η δενδρα κοπτειν , &c. - Polym. Stratag., lib. iii.