Exoduschapter 5

A.Let My People Go — Pharaoh Refusesvv. 1-9

1 After that, Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Let My people go, so that they may hold a feast to Me in the wilderness.’” 2 But Pharaoh replied, “Who is the LORD that I should obey His voice and let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, and I will not let Israel go.” 3 “The God of the Hebrews has met with us,” they answered. “Please let us go on a three-day journey into the wilderness to sacrifice to the LORD our God, or He may strike us with plagues or with the sword.” 4 But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you draw the people away from their work? Get back to your labor!” 5 Pharaoh also said, “Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you would be stopping them from their labor.” 6 That same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their foremen: 7 “You shall no longer supply the people with straw for making bricks. They must go and gather their own straw. 8 But require of them the same quota of bricks as before; do not reduce it. For they are lazy; that is why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’ 9 Make the work harder on the men so they will be occupied and pay no attention to these lies.”

B.Bricks Without Strawvv. 10-14

10 So the taskmasters and foremen of the people went out and said to them, “This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I am no longer giving you straw. 11 Go and get your own straw wherever you can find it; but your workload will in no way be reduced.’” 12 So the people scattered all over the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. 13 The taskmasters kept pressing them, saying, “Fulfill your quota each day, just as you did when straw was provided.” 14 Then the Israelite foremen, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over the people, were beaten and asked, “Why have you not fulfilled your quota of bricks yesterday or today, as you did before?”

C.Why Have You Dealt Ill With Us?vv. 15-23

15 So the Israelite foremen went and appealed to Pharaoh: “Why are you treating your servants this way? 16 No straw has been given to your servants, yet we are told, ‘Make bricks!’ Look, your servants are being beaten, but the fault is with your own people.” 17 “You are slackers!” Pharaoh replied. “Slackers! That is why you keep saying, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.’ 18 Now get to work. You will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the full quota of bricks.” 19 The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble when they were told, “You must not 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 look upon you and judge you,” the foremen said, “for you have made us a stench before Pharaoh and his officials; you have placed in their hand a sword to kill us!” 22 So Moses returned to the LORD and asked, “Lord, why have You brought trouble upon this people? Is this why You sent me? 23 Ever since I went to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has brought trouble on this people, and You have not delivered Your people in any way.”

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Chapter summary

First confrontation with Pharaoh.

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First confrontation with Pharaoh. ‘Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.’ ‘Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice?’ The straw is taken away but the tally of bricks is not lowered. The Israelite officers are beaten; they cry out to Pharaoh; Pharaoh accuses them of idleness. They meet Moses and Aaron with bitter words: ‘ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh’. Moses returns to the LORD: ‘wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people?’ The chapter closes in darkness. Deliverance has made the bondage worse before it makes it better.

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary, John Wesley, Notes on the Old Testament and John Calvin, Commentaries.

Context

Law · Moses — Exodus overview

A. 1–9 Let My People Go — Pharaoh Refuses
B. 10–14 Bricks Without Straw
C. 15–23 Why Have You Dealt Ill With Us?

Top cross-references8 chapters ▾

Exodus 54 verses
- Exodus 5:8But require of them the same quota of bricks as before; do not reduce it. For they are lazy; that is why they are crying out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’
- Exodus 5:10So the taskmasters and foremen of the people went out and said to them, “This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I am no longer giving you straw.
- Exodus 5:13The taskmasters kept pressing them, saying, “Fulfill your quota each day, just as you did when straw was provided.”
- Exodus 5:19The Israelite foremen realized they were in trouble when they were told, “You must not reduce your daily quota of bricks.”
- Read Exodus 5 →
Exodus 33 verses
- Exodus 3:7The LORD said, “I have indeed seen the affliction of My people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their oppressors, and I am aware of their sufferings.
- Exodus 3:18The elders of Israel will listen to what you say, and you must go with them to the king of Egypt and tell him, ‘The LORD, the God of the Hebrews, has met with us. Now please let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness, so that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.’
- Exodus 3:19But I know that the king of Egypt will not allow you to go unless a mighty hand compels him.
- Read Exodus 3 →
Exodus 12 verses
- Exodus 1:7but the Israelites were fruitful and increased rapidly; they multiplied and became exceedingly numerous, so that the land was filled with them.
- Exodus 1:11So the Egyptians appointed taskmasters over the Israelites to oppress them with forced labor. As a result, they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh.
- Read Exodus 1 →
2 Kings 182 verses
- 2 Kings 18:20You claim to have a strategy and strength for war, but these are empty words. In whom are you now trusting, that you have rebelled against me?
- 2 Kings 18:35Who among all the gods of these lands has delivered his land from my hand? How then can the LORD deliver Jerusalem from my hand?”
- Read 2 Kings 18 →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

Numbers 112 verses
- Numbers 11:11So Moses asked the LORD, “Why have You brought this trouble on Your servant? Why have I not found favor in Your sight, that You have laid upon me the burden of all these people?
- Numbers 11:16Then the LORD said to Moses, “Bring Me seventy of the elders of Israel known to you as leaders and officers of the people. Bring them to the Tent of Meeting and have them stand there with you.
- Read Numbers 11 →
Exodus 101 verse
- Exodus 10:9“We will go with our young and old,” Moses replied. “We will go with our sons and daughters, and with our flocks and herds, for we must hold a feast to the LORD.”
- Read Exodus 10 →
Acts 41 verse
- Acts 4:29And now, Lord, consider their threats, and enable Your servants to speak Your word with complete boldness,
- Read Acts 4 →
1 Kings 211 verse
- 1 Kings 21:20When Elijah arrived, Ahab said to him, “So you have found me out, my enemy.” He replied, “I have found you out because you have sold yourself to do evil in the sight of the LORD.
- Read 1 Kings 21 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.