The Second Book of Moses, called Exodus
Exodus 5
Chapter V · Vol. I, pp. 304–305
1 Pharaoh chideth Moses and Aaron for their message. 6 He increaseth the Israelites' task. 15 He checketh their complaints. 19 They cry out upon Moses and Aaron. 22 Moses complaineth to God.
1 AND afterward Moses and Aaron went in and a told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a b feast unto me in the wilderness.
2 And Pharaoh said, c Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.8
c ch. 3.19. Job 21.15. Ps. 12.3; 14.1. Is. 36.20. Zep. 1.12.
8 The question of Pharaoh was not, as at first sight appears, a wanton insult to the Majesty of heaven. He was an idolater. He had heard the names of many gods. He especially venerated and trusted in those of his own nation. But Jehovah was not among them. He had never heard his name before. Hence he said to Moses, 'I neither know nor fear Jehovah.'—P.
3 And they said, d The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days' journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the LORD our God; lest he e fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword.
d See ch. 3.6,17,18; 4.5. Ge. 17.7.
4 And the king of Egypt said unto them, Whereforef do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your burdens.
5 And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens.
6 And Pharaoh commanded the same day the g taskmasters7 of the people, and their h officers, saying,
g ch. 1.11; ver. 13.
7 The task-masters were Egyptians, and the officers under them were Hebrews.
h ver. 14, 15, 19.
7 Ye shall no more give the people straw8 to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves.
8 The brick pyramids at Dashoor and Faioum still contain straw that is not even yet discoloured. Such bricks were never burned in the fire, but merely dried in the sun; and, in a country where rain never falls, as is the case in some parts of Egypt, have endured unchanged for centuries.—C.
8 And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.
9 Let there more work be laid upon the men,9 that they may labour therein; and let them not regard i vain words.
10 And j the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spake to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw.
j Pr. 29.12. ver. 6, 13; ch. 1.11.
11 Go ye, get you straw where ye can find it:1 yet not ought of your work shall be diminished.
1 This cruel and oppressive mandate will not be rightly understood without alluding to the fact, that not only the stubble and the dry remains of grassy plants, which formed a substitute for straw, were frequently burnt up and entirely destroyed by hot winds, but that the grain with its straw was likewise consumed ere it was completely ripe for the sickle, and thus a scarcity prevailed to a greater or less extent almost every year.
12 So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw.
13 And the taskmasters hasted them, saying, Fulfil your works, your daily tasks,2 as when there was straw.
2 Heb. a matter of a day in his day.
14 And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten,3 and demanded, Wherefore have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and to-day, as heretofore?
3 The task-masters were Egyptians, the officers Hebrews, as may be seen by comparing this account with ver. 16, 17, 21. Such beating of men in office is still common in China and Persia, and is not unfrequently applied even to the highest officers of state. It once did, and probably still does, prevail in some provinces of Russia.—Note, How great are the blessings of a government founded in Christianity, and not in force] C.——This is quite oriental. We need only allude to China, which has been aptly said to be governed by the stick. In Persia, also, the stick is in continual action. Men of all ranks and ages are continually liable to be beaten. It is by no means a rare occurrence for the highest and most trusted persons in the state, in a moment of displeasure or caprice in their royal master, to be handed over to the beaters of carpets, who beat them with their sticks as if they were dogs. The same practice descends through all ranks; and it has often made the writer's heart ache to see respectable and even venerable white-bearded men chastised by the menials and messengers of great persons, &c.—Pict. Bible.
15 Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Whereforek dealest thou thus with thy servants?
k Le. 25.43. De. 24.14,15. Ep. 6.9. Col. 4.1. Ja. 5.4.
16 There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and, behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault is in thine own people.
17 But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the LORD.
18 Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks.
19 And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in l evil case, after it was said, Ye shall not minish ought from your bricks of your daily task.
A.M. 2513. B.C. 1491.
l Mat. 14.24, 26. De. 32.36. He. 12.6. Am. 3.2. Ac. 14.22. 2 Ti. 3.12.
20 And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh:
21 And they said unto them, The LORD m look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour n to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.
m Ge. 16.5; 31.53. 1 Sa. 24.15. ch. 6.9.
n Heb. to stink. Ge. 34.30. 1 Ch. 19.6. 2 Sa. 10.6.
22 And Moses o returned unto the LORD, and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me?
o Ps. 59.15; 91.15; 73.25,26,28; 142.4, 5. 1 Sa. 30.6. Je. 12.1. ch. 6.12, 30; 4.10-13. Nu. 11.11-15.
23 For p since I came to Pharaoh to speak q in thy name, he hath done evil. to this people; r neither hast thou delivered4 thy people at all.
q Ps. 118.26. Je. 11.21. Jn. 5.43.
r Is. 26.17,18. He. 10.23, 35, 36. Mar. 5.36. Mat. 14.31. Job 35.14.
4 Heb. delivering thou hast not delivered.
Notes
Reflections.—Let me here remark, that however poor and despicable the people of God may be on earth, he will acknowledge them, and in his own way plead their cause. The most presumptuous rebellion against God's will is founded in ignorance of him; and, while persecutors obstinately cleave to their wickedness, God's people ought to be peculiarly careful of offending him. It is no new thing for carnal men to look on religious worship as useless or hurtful, and to improve God's demands upon his people as a spur to their own cruelty: and cruel princes never want cruel agents to promote their barbarous purposes. In evil times God's ministers may expect a double share of abuse at all hands; and be blamed as the causes of distress, when they are but the innocent and dutiful occasions of it. But what a mercy is it that they have a God to go to with their complaints! Surely there is need to believe in hope against hope, since the heaviest trials may happen when we expect, and are even at the daybreak of, remarkable deliverances. Meanwhile, let me think of the bondage of heathenish and antichristian superstition, idolatry, oppression, and persecution, from which God hath delivered, and will deliver, his gospel-church. But how much more oppressive is the bondage of our natural and unregenerated state!—the bondage to a broken law, which demands the perfect performance of every duty, and yet denies all strength for that effect!—the bondage to divers lusts, which lade men with guilt, drown them in perdition, and pierce them through with many sorrows!—the bondage to this world, in minding nothing but carnal things!—the bondage of the fears of death and hell, which often render life a burden!—and the bondage to Satan, who goeth about seeking whom he may devour! Blessed for ever be the Lord, who hath sent a Saviour and a great One to deliver us! Dare not, my soul, to murmur against him, though fires should go before him, and it should be very tempestuous round about him. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.