Exodus 5:1-6

Israel's Labor Increased

1 And afterward Moses and Aaron came and said to Pharaoh, "1Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, '2Let My people go that they may celebrate a feast to Me in the wilderness.' "
2 But Pharaoh said, "3Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and besides, 4I will not let Israel go."
3 Then they said, "5The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please, let us go a three days' journey into the wilderness that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God, otherwise He will fall upon us with pestilence or with the sword."
4 But the king of Egypt said to them, "Moses and Aaron, why do you draw the people away from their work? Get back to your 6labors!"
5 Again Pharaoh said, "Look, 7the people of the land are now many, and you would have them cease from their labors!"
6 So the same day Pharaoh commanded 8the taskmasters over the people and their 9foremen, saying,

Exodus 5:1-6 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 5

Moses and Aaron go in to Pharaoh, and desire leave for the children of Israel to go into the wilderness three days' journey, to sacrifice to the Lord, and are answered in a very churlish and atheistical manner, and are charged with making the people idle, the consequence of which was, the taskmasters had orders, to make their work more heavy and toilsome, Ex 5:1-9 which orders were executed with severity by them, Ex 5:10-13, upon which the officers of the children of Israel complained to Pharaoh, but to no purpose, Ex 5:14-19, and meeting with Moses and Aaron, lay the blame upon them, Ex 5:20,21, which sends Moses to the Lord to expostulate with him about it, Ex 5:22,23.

Cross References 9

  • 1. Exodus 3:18
  • 2. Exodus 4:23; Exodus 6:11; Exodus 7:16
  • 3. 2 Kings 18:35; 2 Chronicles 32:14; Job 21:15
  • 4. Exodus 3:19
  • 5. Exodus 3:18
  • 6. Exodus 1:11; Exodus 2:11; Exodus 6:5-7
  • 7. Exodus 1:7, 9
  • 8. Exodus 1:11; Exodus 3:7; Exodus 5:10, 13, 14
  • 9. Ex 5:10, 14, 15, 19

Footnotes 3

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