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Exodus

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Exodus 5

1And afterward Moses and Aaron came, and said unto Pharaoh, Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.

1And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.

Commentary · verse 1

Moses and Aaron requested of Pharaoh to let Israel go to the wilderness to hold a feast. There was nothing right or wrong about this request. It was just a request.

2And Pharaoh said, Who is Jehovah, that I should hearken unto his voice to let Israel go? I know not Jehovah, and moreover I will not let Israel go.

2And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.

Commentary · verse 2

Pharaoh stated his will. There was nothing right or wrong about Pharaoh's response. It was just a response.

3And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days’ journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice unto Jehovah our God, lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword.

4And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, loose the people from their works? get you unto your burdens.

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

6And the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying, 7Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves.

3And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days’ journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the LORD our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword.

4And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your burdens.

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

6And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,

7Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves.

Commentary · verses 3-7

This action was wrong for Pharaoh to do. Pharaoh took a value from the Israelites because Aaron asked him to consider letting the people go. Pharaoh thought he equaled out Justice. Actually, Aaron did nothing wrong. All Aaron did was ask a question. At this point, Pharaoh was on the negative side of Justice because he was the only one who took a value. Pharaoh owed, but he thought things were even.

8And the number of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish aught thereof: for they are idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.

9Let heavier work be laid upon the men, that they may labor therein; and let them not regard lying words.

10And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spake to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw.

11Go yourselves, get you straw where ye can find it: for nought of your work shall be diminished.

8And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.

9Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein; and let them not regard vain words.

10And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spake to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw.

11Go ye, get you straw where ye can find it: yet not ought of your work shall be diminished.

Commentary · verses 8-11

Pharaoh added to their work. The Israelites were now forced to gather their own straw without letting this decrease the amount of work they accomplished.

12So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw.

13And the taskmasters were urgent saying, Fulfil your works, your daily tasks, as when there was straw.

14And the officers of the children of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, Wherefore have ye not fulfilled your task both yesterday and to-day, in making brick as heretofore?

12So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw.

13And the taskmasters hasted them, saying, Fulfil your works, your daily tasks, as when there was straw.

14And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, Wherefore have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and to day, as heretofore?

Commentary · verses 12-14

Not only was there added work but the Israelites were beaten when the amount of work they completed was less than this new, higher level.

15Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?

15Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?

Commentary · verse 15

Causality: "Why did you do this injustice?" Everyone knew what Pharaoh did was unjust.

16There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and, behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault is in thine own people.

17But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and sacrifice to Jehovah.

16There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and, behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault is in thine own people.

17But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the LORD.

Commentary · verses 16-17

Wrong Conclusion: "You must be idle to have made that request." Pharaoh projected a wrong reason onto God's people which led to the Israelites being abused more.

18Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the number of bricks.

19And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case, when it was said, Ye shall not diminish aught from your bricks, your daily tasks.

20And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh: 21and they said unto them, Jehovah look upon you, and judge: because ye have made our savor to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.

18Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks.

19And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case, after it was said, Ye shall not minish ought from your bricks of your daily task.

20And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh:

21And they said unto them, The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.

Commentary · verses 18-21

The Israelites believed Moses was wrong and stated they wanted God to judge him because they looked bad to the king. Their focus was not on God (spiritual/moral), it was on Pharaoh (physical/ethical). Moses was in the right even though he was not in the majority.

22And Moses returned unto Jehovah, and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou dealt ill with this people? why is it that thou hast sent me?

22And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me?

Commentary · verse 22

Moses had doubt (because he was in the minority) and asked God again why He had sent him.

23For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath dealt ill with this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all.

23For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all.

Commentary · verse 23

Moses looked short term and told God He did not deliver them. Remember, God already laid out the whole plan. The people wanted the benefit immediately. However, the way God's plans work in our lives is by us having to go from bad to good through worse...God always leads us in a way that first kills our flesh.

Doctrines on this passage

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