Exodus 5:17-23

17 But he said, "You are 1lazy, very lazy; therefore * you say, 'Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.'
18 "So go now and work; for you will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the quota of bricks."
19 The foremen of the sons of Israel saw that they were in trouble because they were told, "You must not reduce your daily amount * of bricks."
20 When they left Pharaoh's presence *, they met Moses and Aaron as they were waiting for them.
21 2They said to them, "3May the LORD look upon you and judge you, for you have 4made us odious in Pharaoh's sight and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us."
22 Then Moses returned to the LORD and said, "5O Lord, why have You brought harm to this people? Why did You ever send me?
23 "Ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has done harm to this people, 6and You have not delivered Your people at all."

Exodus 5:17-23 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 6

  • 1. Exodus 5:8
  • 2. Exodus 14:11; Exodus 15:24; Exodus 16:2
  • 3. Genesis 16:5; Genesis 31:53
  • 4. Genesis 34:30; 1 Samuel 13:4; 1 Samuel 27:12; 2 Samuel 10:6; 1 Chronicles 19:6
  • 5. Numbers 11:11; Jeremiah 4:10
  • 6. Exodus 3:8

Footnotes 4

  • [a]. Lit "saying"
  • [b]. Lit "from your bricks the matter of a day in its day"
  • [c]. Lit "standing to meet"
  • [d]. Lit "our savor to stink"
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