X ( Genesis 11:3 ) The brick in use among the Jews were much larger than with us, being usually from 12 to 13 inches square and 3 1/2 inches thick; they thus possess more of the character of tiles. ( Ezekiel 4:1 ) The Israelites, in common with other captives, were employed by the Egyptian monarchs in making bricks and in building. ( Exodus 1:14 ; 5:7 ) Egyptian bricks were not generally dried in kilns, but in the sun. That brick-kilns were known is evident from ( 2 Samuel 12:31 ; Jeremiah 43:9 ) When made of the Nile mud they required straw to prevent cracking.