Exodus 6:9

9 And Moses spoke thus to the sons of Israel, and they hearkened not to Moses for faint-heartedness, and for their hard tasks.

Exodus 6:9 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 6:9

And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel
After this manner, and in the above words, declaring all that the Lord made known to him, and promised to do for them; which one would have thought would have revived their spirits, and refreshed and comforted their hearts under their troubles, and encouraged a lively exercise of faith and hope of deliverance: but they hearkened not unto Moses;
being disappointed of deliverance by him, and their afflictions being increased, and lying heavy upon them, they were heartless and hopeless; for anguish of spirit;
trouble of mind and grief of heart, with which they were swallowed up; or "for shortness of breath" ^F2, being so pressed that they could hardly breathe, and so were incapable of attending to what was spoken to them: and for cruel bondage;
under which they laboured, and from which they had scarce any respite, and saw no way of deliverance from it.

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FOOTNOTES:

F2 (xwr ruqm) "ob brevem anhelitum", Munster.

Exodus 6:9 In-Context

7 And I will take you to me a people for myself, and will be your God; and ye shall know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from the tyranny of the Egyptians.

8 And I will bring you into the land concerning which I stretched out my hand to give it to Abraam and Isaac and Jacob, and I will give it you for an inheritance: I the Lord.

9 And Moses spoke thus to the sons of Israel, and they hearkened not to Moses for faint-heartedness, and for their hard tasks.

10 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying,

11 Go in, speak to Pharao king of Egypt, that he send forth the children of Israel out of his land.