Exodus 5:6-23

Further Oppression of Israel

6 That day Pharaoh commanded the overseers of the people as well as their foremen:

7 "Don't continue to supply the people with straw for making bricks, as before. They must go and gather straw for themselves.

8 But require the same quota of bricks from them as they were making before; do not reduce it. For they are slackers-that is why they are crying out, 'Let us go and sacrifice to our God.'

9 Impose heavier work on the men. Then they will be occupied with it and not pay attention to deceptive words."

10 So the overseers and foremen of the people went out and said to them, "This is what Pharaoh says: 'I am not giving you straw.

11 Go get straw yourselves wherever you can find it, but there will be no reduction at all in your workload.' "

12 So the people scattered throughout the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw.

13 The overseers insisted, "Finish your assigned work each day, just as [you did] when straw was [provided]."

14 Then the Israelite foremen, whom Pharaoh's slave drivers had set over the people, were beaten and asked, "Why haven't you finished making your prescribed number of bricks yesterday or today, as [you did] before?"

15 So the Israelite foremen went in and cried for help to Pharaoh: "Why are you treating your servants this way?

16 No straw has been given to your servants, yet they say to us, 'Make bricks!' Look, your servants are being beaten, but it is your own people who are at fault."

17 But he said, "You are slackers. Slackers! That is why you are saying, 'Let us go sacrifice to the Lord.'

18 Now get to work. No straw will be given to you, but you must produce the same quantity of bricks."

19 The Israelite foremen saw that they were in trouble when they were told, "You cannot reduce your daily quota of bricks."

20 When they left Pharaoh, they confronted Moses and Aaron, who stood [waiting] to meet them.

21 "May the Lord take note of you and judge," they said to them, "because you have made us reek in front of Pharaoh and his officials-putting a sword in their hand to kill us!"

22 So Moses went back to the Lord and asked, "Lord, why have You caused trouble for this people? And why did You ever send me?

23 Ever since I went in to Pharaoh to speak in Your name he has caused trouble for this people, and You haven't delivered Your people at all."

Exodus 5:6-23 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.