Exodus 5:21

21 The foremen said to them, "May God see what you've done and judge you - you've made us stink before Pharaoh and his servants! You've put a weapon in his hand that's going to kill us!"

Exodus 5:21 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 5:21

And they said unto them, the Lord look upon you and judge,
&c.] Or, "will look upon you and judge" ^F17; and so it is either a prediction of what would be done to them, or an imprecation on them that God would take notice of their conduct, and punish them, or at least chastise them for acting the part they had, if not wickedly, yet imprudently:

because you have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh;
or to "stink" ^F18; they were become vile, abominable, and hateful to him, he could not bear the sight of them, and treated them as the filth and offscouring of all things; they had lost their good name, credit, and reputation with him; for leave being asked for them to go three days' journey into the wilderness, to offer sacrifice, and keep a feast, they were looked upon as a parcel of idle slothful fellows:

and in the eyes of his servants;
not the taskmasters only, but his nobles, counsellors, and courtiers:

to put a sword in their hands to slay us;
a proverbial expression, signifying that they by their conduct had exposed them to the utmost danger, and had given their enemies an occasion against them, and an opportunity of destroying their whole nation, under a pretence of disobedience and disloyalty.

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FOOTNOTES:

F17 (jwpvyw-ary) "videbit" "et judicabit", Rivet.
F18 (Mtvabh) "fecisti foetere", V. L. Pagninus, Montanus, Tigurine version, Drusius.

Exodus 5:21 In-Context

19 The Israelite foremen saw that they were in a bad way, having to go back and tell their workers, "Not one brick short in your daily quota."

20 As they left Pharaoh, they found Moses and Aaron waiting to meet them.

21 The foremen said to them, "May God see what you've done and judge you - you've made us stink before Pharaoh and his servants! You've put a weapon in his hand that's going to kill us!"

22 Moses went back to God and said, "My Master, why are you treating this people so badly? And why did you ever send me?

23 From the moment I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, things have only gotten worse for this people. And rescue? Does this look like rescue to you?"