Shemot 5:5

5 And Pharaoh said, Hinei, the Am HaAretz now are many, and ye make them rest from their sivlot.

Shemot 5:5 Meaning and Commentary

Exodus 5:5

And Pharaoh said, behold, the people of the land now are many,
&c.] So that if some were taken off, as suggested, there were enough of them to do business and so he cared not; but if allowed to go, they might mutiny and rebel, and give a great deal of trouble to quell them; or it may be, the sense is, they were very numerous, and too numerous already, and if they were took off of their work, and allowed to go a feasting, they would be more so, which agrees with the next clause:

and you make them rest from their burdens;
which was the way to make them more numerous still, and to frustrate the design of laying burdens upon them, which was originally intended to hinder the multiplication of them, ( Exodus 1:9-14 ) .

Shemot 5:5 In-Context

3 And they said, Elohei HaIvrim hath met with us; let us go, now, derech shloshet yamim into the midbar, and sacrifice unto Hashem Eloheinu; lest He fall upon us with dever (cattle disease), or with the cherev.

4 And Melech Mitzrayim said unto them, Why do ye, Moshe and Aharon, disturb the people from their works? Get you back unto your own sivlot (burdens).

5 And Pharaoh said, Hinei, the Am HaAretz now are many, and ye make them rest from their sivlot.

6 And Pharaoh commanded the same day the nogesim of the people, and their foremen, saying,

7 Ye shall no more give HaAm straw to make brick, as heretofore; let them go and gather straw for themselves.