Why Pharaoh Accused Levi of Idleness Before Moses and Aaron

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Vaera 4:1

Rabbi Judah the Levite said: The tribe of Levi was free from the forced labor (latrugya) in Egypt. Pharaoh said to them: Because you are idle, you come and say, "Let us go... and let us sacrifice" (Exodus 5:3). He said to them: "Why, Moses and Aaron, do you distract the people from their tasks?" (Exodus 5:4).

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