Exodus 5:6-16

6 That same day Pharaoh gave these orders to the slave drivers and foremen:

7 "Don't give the people any more straw to make bricks as you have been doing. Let them gather their own straw,

8 but insist that they make the same number of bricks they were making before. Making fewer bricks will not be acceptable. They're lazy! That's why they're crying, 'Let us go offer sacrifices to our God.'

9 Make the work harder for these people so that they will be too busy to listen to lies."

10 The slave drivers and foreman went out and said to them, "This is what Pharaoh says: I'm no longer giving you straw.

11 Get your own straw wherever you can find it, but your work load will not be reduced one bit."

12 So the people scattered all over Egypt to gather stubble for straw.

13 The slave drivers kept hurrying them. They said, "Finish the same amount of work each day, just as when you had straw."

14 Pharaoh's slave drivers had placed Israelite foremen in charge of the people. The slave drivers beat the foremen and said, "You didn't finish all the bricks you were ordered to make yesterday or today. Why didn't you make as many as you used to?"

15 Then the Israelite foremen complained to Pharaoh. They asked, "Why are you treating us this way?

16 We're given no straw, and yet we're told to make bricks. We're being beaten, but your men are at fault."

Exodus 5:6-16 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.