Exodus 5:10

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 5:10-14

Pharaoh's orders are here put in execution; straw is denied, and yet the work not diminished. 1. The Egyptian task-masters were very severe. Pharaoh having decreed unrighteous decrees, the task-masters were ready to write the grievousness that he had prescribed, Isa. 10:1. Cruel princes will never want cruel instruments to be employed under them, who will justify them in that which is most unreasonable. These task-masters insisted upon the daily tasks, as when there was straw, Exod. 5:13. See... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 5:10

And the taskmasters of the people went out ,.... From the presence of Pharaoh, out of his court, to the respective places where they were set to see that the Israelites did their work: and their officers ; the officers of the Israelites, who were under the taskmasters, and answerable to them for the work of the people, and their tale of bricks: and they spake to the people, saying, thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw ; that is, any longer, as he had used to do. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 5:1-21

Failure. " I know not Jehovah," etc.: Exodus 5:2 . We now come face to face with the king. As the king here becomes very prominent, we will keep him conspicuous in the outlining of this address. I. AUDIENCE WITH THE KING . This is a convenient moment for introducing Pharaoh as the terrestrial representative of the Sun, as the vicegerent of Deity upon earth. Does it seem wonderful that men should receive a man in this capacity? But millions of professed Christians in this... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

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 5:4-10

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

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 5:6-14

The increase of trouble for God's people no proof of the failure of his purpose. I. THE DEMANDS OF GOD PROVOKE THE WRATH OF THE UNGODLY . The mad persistence of Pharaoh in his injustice is marked— 1 . In his haste: his commands were issued "the same day." 2 . In the severity of the decree: they should find their own straw, and yet deliver the same number of bricks. 3 . In his determination to have his commands obeyed. It is not meant to be an idle threat:... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 5:10

The taskmasters … went out , i.e . quitted the royal palace to which they Had been summoned ( Exodus 5:6 ), and proceeded to the places where the people worked. The vicinity of Zoan was probably one great brickfield. Thus saith Pharaoh . The exact words of Pharaoh. ( Exodus 5:7 ) are not repeated, but modified, according to men's ordinary practice in similar cases. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 5:10-14

The command of Pharaoh gone forth—no straw was to be provided for the Israelites, they were themselves to gather straw. The taskmasters could not soften the edict; they could only promulgate it ( Exodus 5:10 , Exodus 5:11 ). And the Israelites could only choose between rebelling and endeavouring to obey. To rebel seemed hopeless; Moses and Aaron did not advise rebellion, and so the attempt was made to carry out Pharaoh's behest ( Exodus 5:12 ). But experience proved that obedience to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 5:10-14

A blind obedience to the commands of tyrants not laudable. The Egyptian taskmasters seem to have carried out their monarch's orders to the full, if not with inward satisfaction, at any rate without visible repugnance. They published abroad the orders given without in any way softening them ( Exodus 5:10 , Exodus 5:11 ), harassed the Israeli people all day long by "hasting them" ( Exodus 5:13 ), and bastinadoed the Israelite officers at night ( Exodus 5:14 ). How different their... read more

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