Exodus 5

AND afterward Moses and Aaron And with them some of the Elders of Israel, as may seem from Exod. 3. 18. though here only the two chiefs be mentioned. Or, because Moses did not seem to be satisfied with the assistance of the Elders before offered him, Exod. 3. 18 God was pleased to give him a more acceptable assistant in their stead even Aaron his brother, Exod. 4. 14. went in, and told Pharaoh Either both successively told him: Or Aaron did it immediately and with his tongue, Moses by his interpreter, and by his command.: Thus says the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast Or, offer a sacrifice, as they express it, ver. 3. and chap. 10. 9. For both went together and a good part of many sacrifices was spent in feasting before the Lord and unto the honour of the Lord. See Deut. 12. 6, 7, 11, 12. unto me in the wilderness.

And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice I am the soveraign Lord of Egypt and I own no superiour here., to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.

And they said, The God of the Hebrews has met with us (i. e.) Has appeared to us lately and laid this command upon us. Others, is called upon us, i. e. his name is called upon us, or we are called by his name. But why should Moses so solemnly tell that to Pharaoh which all the people knew, to wit, that the Hebrews did Worship the God of the Hebrews? And our Translation is confirmed by comparing this with Exod. 3. 18. where this very message is prescribed., let us go, we pray thee, three days journey into the desart, and sacrifice unto the LORD our God, lest he fall upon us Lest he punish either us if we disobey his command, or thee, if thou hinderest us from obeying it: But this latter they only imply, as being easily gathered from the former. with pestilence, or with the sword.

And the King of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? Get you unto your burdens Either 1. Ye, the Elders of Israel, who are here come with Moses and Aaron: se... ver. 1. Or, 2. Y... Moses and Aaron. So far am I from granting the liberty which you desire for the people, that as a just punishment upon you for your seditious attempt, I command you also to go with the rest, and to take your share in their burdens, and to perform the task which shall be required of you. And that so cruel a Tyrant did not proceed further against them, must be ascribed to the mighty power of God who governs the spirits and restrains the hands of the greatest Kings, when he pleaseth..

And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many The Israelites in this Land are very numerous, and therefore it were a madness in me to permit them all to meet and go together, as you desire, which may tend to the ruine of my whole Kingdom, and probably it is designed by you to that purpose. Or, Therefore your injury to me is the greater in attempting to rob me of the benefit of their labours. This I prefer, because it suits best with the following words., and you make them rest from their burdens.

And Pharaoh commanded the same day the task-masters of the people, and their officers The Task-masters were Egyptians, and the Officers were Israelites under-officers to them, ver. 14, 15, 19., saying,

Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick The straw was used either to mingle with the clay, that it might not be too brittle: or to cover the Clay when it was formed into Bricks, that the heat of the Sun might not dry them too much, which might easily be done in that hot Countrey: Or for fewel either wholly or in part to burn their bricks with, straw being abundant there and much used for that purpose. as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves.

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

Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labour therein, and let them not regard vain words The words of Moses and Aaron which are vain, or false, i. e. which they falsly pretend to come from God, when it is only an ill design of their own to advance themselves by raising sedition..

And the task-masters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spake to the people, saying, Thus says Pharaoh, I will not give you straw.

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

So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt (i. e.) All that part of it: which is a very usual Synecdoche., to gather stubble in stead of straw.

And the task-masters hasted them, saying, Fulfill your works, your daily tasks, as when there was straw.

And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaohs tasks-masters 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?

Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cryed unto Pharaoh, saying, wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?

There 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 (i. e.) The Egyptian task-masters, who by sending us abroad to gather straw hinder us from doing the work which they require: And so they are both unjust and unreasonable. They charge the task-masters, not the King, either in civility and duty casting his fault upon the instruments: or because they did not know or at best not believe that this was the Kings act. Others. Thy people, i. e. the Egyptians, make themselves guilty, and will bring the vengeance of God upon them for their cruelty..

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

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

And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case Or, looked upon them with sadness or with an evil eye, i. e. with a sorrowful and angry countenance, as those that could obtain no relaxation for themselves or for their brethren., after it was said, ye shall not minish ought from your bricks of your daily task.

And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they The Officers who went to pour out their complaints to Pharaoh, ver. 15. came forth from Pharaoh:

And they said unto them, The LORD look upon you, and judge, because you have made our favour 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 To give them, what they have long sought and thirsted after, to wit, an occasion to destroy and root us out..

And Moses returned unto the LORD To expostulate with him and pray to him. To the people he says nothing, but me... kly pa... eth by their severe censures, as forced from them by intolerable oppression, and because their minds being now imbitter'd and exasperated they were uncapable of admonition., and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil intreated this people By giving occasion to their greater bondage. He expostulates the matter with God not from pride and arrogance, as one that would censure and condemn his actions, but from zeal for Gods glory and his peoples happiness, as one that would prevail with God to relieve them. Though it must be confessed that Moses exceeded his bounds being transported with grief and passion, which the gracious God was pleased to pass by.? why is it that thou hast sent me?

For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy Name Not of my own head, but by thy command and commission., he has done evil to this people, neither hast thou delivered thy people at all According to thy promise and mine and thy peoples just expectation..