Exodus 5:1-4 NIV

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 5:1-23

The people of Jehovah detained and oppressed by the representative of the prince of this world; no doubt as to the strength of the latter—is it possible for his spoils to be wrested from him? The strong man armed has thus far kept his palace ( Luke 11:21 ), and his goods (cf. Revelation 18:13 ) have been in peace, so far as outward disturbance is concerned. Now comes one who claims to be the stronger. What may be expected to. happen? I. THE CHALLENGE DELIVERED . 1 . The ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 5:2

And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord? Rather, "Who is Jehovah?" Either Pharaoh is actually ignorant, or he pretends to be. The former is possible, since Jehovah was a name but little employed, until the return of Moses to Egypt. The latter, however, is more probable. That I should obey his voice . Why am I to obey his voice? What is your Jehovah to me? What authority has he over me? He is, at best, your god, not mine. I know not Jehovah . I acknowledge him not. He is not within the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 5:2

Pharaoh's first response: his answer in word. Moses and Aaron, somehow or other, have found their way into Pharaoh's presence. All things, so far, have happened as God said they would happen. The very brevity and compactness of the record at the end of Exodus 4:1-31 . is an instructive comment on the way in which Moses had mistaken comparative shadows for substantial difficulties. The actual meeting of Moses with Israel is dismissed in a few satisfactory and significant words; as much... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 5:3

And they said . Moses and Aaron are not abashed by a single refusal. They expostulate, and urge fresh reasons why Pharaoh should accede to their request. But first they explain that Jehovah is the God of the Hebrews , by which name the Israelites seem to have been generally known to the Egyptians (See Exodus 1:15 , Exodus 1:16 , Exodus 1:19 ; Exodus 2:6 , Exodus 2:7 .) Their God, they say, has met with them—made, that is. a special revelation of himself to them—an idea quite... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 5:4

The king makes no direct reply to this appeal, but turns upon his petitioners, and charges them with an offence against the crown. Why do they, Moses and Aaron, by summoning the people to meet together, and exciting their minds with vague hopes, " let the people from their works ." This is damage to the crown, whoso labourers the people are, and he, the Pharaoh, will not have it. " Get you —all of you, people and leaders together—to your appointed tasks— your burdens ." read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 5:4-10

Increased cruelty. View Pharaoh's conduct as illustrative— I. OF THE VIEW WHICH A WORLDLY MAN TAXES OF RELIGION . "Ye are idle" ( Exodus 5:8 ). This way of putting the matter was partly a pretext—a tyrant's excuse for adding to burdens already sufficiently heavy; but it had so far a ground in Pharaoh's real way of viewing things, that he doubtless regarded the desire to go and sacrifice as an idle, foolish notion, one which would not have come into the people's... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 5:4-18

Pharaoh's first response: his answer in deed. Pharaoh has given a proud verbal refusal to the request of Moses: but he is not contented to stop with words. The first result, discouraging and discrediting of Moses' application, is still further to increase burdens and hardships already scarcely tolerable. I. CONSIDER HOW THIS ADDITIONAL SEVERITY TO ISRAEL ORIGINATED —that is, how it originated as far as Pharaoh's part in it was concerned. It came through his utterly... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Exodus 5:1

Pharaoh - This king, probably Tothmosis II, the great grandson of Aahmes Exodus 1:8, the original persecutor of the Israelites, must have been resident at this time in a city, probably Tanis Exodus 2:5, of Lower Egypt, situated on the Nile.The Lord God - Yahweh God of Israel demanded the services of His people. The demand, according to the general views of the pagans, was just and natural; the Israelites could not offer the necessary sacrifices in the presence of Egyptians. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Exodus 5:2

I know not the Lord - Either Pharaoh had not heard of Yahweh, or he did not recognize Him as a God. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Exodus 5:3

Three days’ journey - See the Exodus 3:18 note.With pestilence, or with the sword - This shows that the plague was well known to the ancient Egyptians. The reference to the sword is equally natural, since the Israelites occupied the eastern district, which was frequently disturbed by the neighboring Shasous. read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 5:1-23

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 5:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 5:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 5:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 5:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 5:4-10

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 5:4-18

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Exodus 5:1

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Exodus 5:2

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Exodus 5:3

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