Exodus 5:1-6

Pharaoh Makes the Israelites Work Even Harder

1 Later on, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh. They said, "The LORD is the God of Israel. He says, 'Let my people go. Then they will be able to hold a feast in my honor in the desert.' "
2 Pharaoh said, "Who is the LORD? Why should I obey him? Why should I let Israel go? I don't even know the Lord. And I won't let Israel go."
3 Then Moses and Aaron said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Now let us take a journey that lasts about three days. We want to go into the desert to offer sacrifices to the LORD our God. If we don't, he might strike us with plagues. Or he might let us be killed with swords."
4 But the king of Egypt said, "Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their work? Get back to work!"
5 Pharaoh continued, "There are large numbers of your people in the land. But you are stopping them from working."
6 That same day Pharaoh gave orders to the slave drivers and the others who were in charge of the people.

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.

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