Exodus 5:15

15 Then the Israelite supervisors came to Pharaoh and cried, "Why do you treat your servants like this?

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 taskmasters were urgent, saying, "Complete your work, the same daily assignment as when you were given straw."

14 And the supervisors of the Israelites, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and were asked, "Why did you not finish the required quantity of bricks yesterday and today, as you did before?"

15 Then the Israelite supervisors came to Pharaoh and cried, "Why do you treat your servants like this?

16 No straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, "Make bricks!' Look how your servants are beaten! You are unjust to your own people."

17 He said, "You are lazy, lazy; that is why you say, "Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord.'