And the taskmasters hasted them , Kept them tight and close to their work, and were urgent on them to make quick dispatch of it: saying, fulfil your works, your daily tasks, as when there was straw ; they insisted upon it, that they did the same business at the brickkilns, made the same number of bricks every day, as they used to do when they had straw at hand. See Exodus 5:11 . read more
And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them ,.... This makes it clear, not only that the taskmasters and officers were different persons, but that the one were Egyptians appointed by Pharaoh, and the other were Israelites, of the better sort of them, who were set over the poorer sort by the taskmasters, to look after them, and take an account of their work, and the tale of their bricks, and give it in to the taskmasters; now these were beaten ... read more
Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh ,.... Made their complaints to him, perhaps with tears in their eyes, being used so very ill. They little thought it was by Pharaoh's orders; they supposed he knew nothing of it, and therefore hoped to have their grievances redressed by him, but were mistaken: saying, wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants ? so they call themselves, they living in his country, and being under his jurisdiction, though not... read more
There is no straw given unto thy servants ,.... As used to be, which they supposed Pharaoh knew nothing of, and by which it appears that the order given by Pharaoh, Exodus 5:6 was not given in the hearing of the officers, only to the taskmasters, and by them to be made known to the officers, though indeed both are there mentioned, and both represent this to the people, Exodus 5:10 . and they say to us, make brick , though they had no straw to make or burn it with: and, behold, thy... read more
But he said, ye are idle, ye are idle ,.... Instead of expressing indignation at the taskmasters, and relieving the officers and the people, he insults them in a flouting sarcastic way, charging them with sloth and idleness; and which, for the certainty of it, or, however, to show how strongly persuaded and fully assured he was of the truth of it, repeats it, and gives the following as a proof of it: therefore ye say, let us go and do sacrifice to the Lord ; suggesting that it was not so... read more
Go therefore now, and work ,.... Go about your business, attend to your work, even you officers, as well as your people; work yourselves, as well as see that your people do theirs, and do not trouble me with such impertinent applications: for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks ; the usual number of bricks, as the Vulgate Latin version has it; though in Exodus 5:8 , it is rendered in that version the measure of bricks, and so another word is... read more
And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case ,.... In a bad condition and circumstances, and that there was no likelihood of their getting out of them, since Pharaoh treated them after this manner; they saw not only that the common people were in a bad condition, in great bondage, misery, and distress, to be obliged to get straw to make brick, and carry in their full tale as before; but that they themselves were in a bad situation, since for the deficiency... read more
And they met Moses and Aaron ,.... The officers of the children of Israel, who had been with their complaints to Pharaoh: who stood in the way as they came forth from Pharaoh ; they, had placed themselves in a proper situation, that they might meet them when they came out, and know what success they had, and which they were extremely desirous of hearing; by which they might judge in what temper Pharaoh was, and what they might for the future expect from him in consequence of their... read more
And they said unto them, the Lord look upon you and judge ,.... Or, "will look upon you and judge" F17 ירא־וישפוט "videbit" "et judicabit", Rivet. ; and so it is either a prediction of what would be done to them, or an imprecation on them that God would take notice of their conduct, and punish them, or at least chastise them for acting the part they had, if not wickedly, yet imprudently: because you have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh ; or to "stink" F18 ... read more
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John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 5:12
So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt ,.... That part of it where they dwelt: to gather stubble instead of straw ; straw not being easy to come at, they were obliged to gather stubble that was left in the fields, after the corn was gathered in. Ben Melech observes, that the word signifies small straw, or small sticks of wood, and Kimchi F13 Sepher Shorash, rad. קשש . , and if so, this must be to burn the bricks with in the furnaces. read more