Charles Ellicott Commentary Exodus 5:12

"So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw." — Exodus 5:12 (ASV)

Stubble instead of straw. —Hebrew, stubble for the straw. Reaping in Egypt was effected by cutting off the ears only from the stalks, and thus a very tall stubble was left in the fields. This appears not to have been valued by the cultivators, and whoever wished was allowed to collect it. After collecting it, and bringing it to the brick-fields in bundles, they would have to chop it small before it would be fit for use.