Exodus 5:2-12

2 at ille respondit quis est Dominus ut audiam vocem eius et dimittam Israhel nescio Dominum et Israhel non dimittam

3 dixerunt Deus Hebraeorum vocavit nos ut eamus viam trium dierum in solitudinem et sacrificemus Domino Deo nostro ne forte accidat nobis pestis aut gladius

4 ait ad eos rex Aegypti quare Moses et Aaron sollicitatis populum ab operibus suis ite ad onera vestra

5 dixitque Pharao multus est populus terrae videtis quod turba succreverit quanto magis si dederitis eis requiem ab operibus

6 praecepit ergo in die illo praefectis operum et exactoribus populi dicens

7 nequaquam ultra dabitis paleas populo ad conficiendos lateres sicut prius sed ipsi vadant et colligant stipulam

8 et mensuram laterum quos prius faciebant inponetis super eos nec minuetis quicquam vacant enim et idcirco vociferantur dicentes eamus et sacrificemus Deo nostro

9 opprimantur operibus et expleant ea ut non adquiescant verbis mendacibus

10 igitur egressi praefecti operum et exactores ad populum dixerunt sic dicit Pharao non do vobis paleas

11 ite et colligite sicubi invenire potueritis nec minuetur quicquam de opere vestro

12 dispersusque est populus per omnem terram Aegypti ad colligendas paleas

Exodus 5:2-12 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.