Exodus 5:15

15 Then the Israelite foremen went to the king and complained, "Why are you treating us, your servants, this way?

Exodus 5:15 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 5:15

Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried
unto Pharaoh
Made their complaints to him, perhaps with tears in their eyes, being used so very ill. They little thought it was by Pharaoh's orders; they supposed he knew nothing of it, and therefore hoped to have their grievances redressed by him, but were mistaken:

saying, wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?
so they call themselves, they living in his country, and being under his jurisdiction, though not properly his subjects; however, he had made them his slaves, and so indeed even bondservants.

Exodus 5:15 In-Context

13 The slave masters kept forcing the people to work harder. They said, "You must make just as many bricks as you did when you were given straw."

14 The king's slave masters had made the Israelite foremen responsible for the work the people did. The Egyptian slave masters beat these men and asked them, "Why aren't you making as many bricks as you made in the past?"

15 Then the Israelite foremen went to the king and complained, "Why are you treating us, your servants, this way?

16 You give us no straw, but we are commanded to make bricks. Our slave masters beat us, but it is your own people's fault."

17 The king answered, "You are lazy! You don't want to work! That is why you ask to leave here and make sacrifices to the Lord.