Exodus 5:14-23

14 And the officers of the children of Israel, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were demanded, "Why have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and today, as heretofore?"

15 Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, "Why dealest thou thus with thy servants?

16 There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, `Make brick!' And behold, thy servants are beaten, but the fault is in thine own people."

17 But he said, "Ye are idle, ye are idle! Therefore ye say, `Let us go and do sacrifice to the LORD.'

18 Go therefore now and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the tally of bricks."

19 And the officers of the children of Israel saw that they were in evil straits after it was said, "Ye shall not diminish any from your bricks of your daily task."

20 And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way as they came forth from Pharaoh.

21 And they said unto them, "The LORD look upon you and judge, because ye have made our savor to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us."

22 And Moses returned unto the LORD and said, "Lord, why hast Thou so evilly treated this people? Why is it that Thou hast sent me?

23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast Thou delivered Thy people at all."

Exodus 5:14-23 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.