Exodus 5:3-7 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 5:3-9

Finding that Pharaoh had no veneration at all for God, Moses and Aaron next try whether he had any compassion for Israel, and become humble suitors to him for leave to go and sacrifice, but in vain. I. Their request is very humble and modest, Exod. 5:3. They make no complaint of the rigour they were ruled with. They plead that the journey they designed was not a project formed among themselves, but that their God had met with them, and called them to it. They beg with all submission: We pray... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 5:3

And they said, the God of the Hebrews hath met with us ,.... Perceiving that the name Jehovah was unknown to him, and treated by him in a scornful manner, they leave it out, and only say, "the God of the Hebrews": a people that dwelt in his country, he well knew by this name, and could not be ignorant that their God was different from his; and it was he that had met Moses and Aaron; they did not seek to him to be sent on this errand, but he appeared to them as he did to Moses at Horeb, and... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 5:4

And the king of Egypt said to them ,.... For he was not struck dumb, as Artapanus F7 Ut supra. (Apud Euseb. Praepar. Evangel. l. 9. c. 27. p. 434.) , afore cited writer, says: wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works ? as they did when they gathered them together, and wrought signs before them; which Pharaoh it seems had heard of, and had got their names very readily: get you unto your burdens ; meaning not Moses and Aaron, ordering them to go about... read more

John Gill

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

And Pharaoh said, behold, the people of the land now are many ,.... So that if some were taken off, as suggested, there were enough of them to do business and so he cared not; but if allowed to go, they might mutiny and rebel, and give a great deal of trouble to quell them; or it may be, the sense is, they were very numerous, and too numerous already, and if they were took off of their work, and allowed to go a feasting, they would be more so, which agrees with the next clause: and you... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 5:6

And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people ,.... Who were Egyptians, and whom Pharaoh sent for the same day, to give them orders to oppress them yet more and more, so far was he from complying with their request: and their officers ; who were Israelites, and were under the taskmasters, and accountable to them for each man's work that they had the inspection and care of: saying , as follows. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 5:7

Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick ,.... Whether this was given and used to mix with the clay, as is done in some places F8 Vide Vitruvium de Architectura, l. 2. c. 3. p. 46. & Philander in ib. , that the bricks made thereof might be firmer and stronger, or to burn them with in the furnaces, or to cover them from the heat of the sun, that they might not dry too soon and crack, is not easy to determine; though it is said that the unburnt bricks of Egypt formerly... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 5:3

Three days' journey - The distance from Goshen to Sinai; see Exodus 3:18 . And sacrifice unto the Lord - Great stress is laid on this circumstance. God required sacrifice; no religious acts which they performed could be acceptable to him without this. He had now showed them that it was their indispensable duty thus to worship him, and that if they did not they might expect him to send the pestilence - some plague or death proceeding immediately from himself, or the sword -... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 5:4

Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron - He hints that the Hebrews are in a state of revolt, and charges Moses and Aaron as being ringleaders of the sedition. This unprincipled charge has been, in nearly similar circumstances, often repeated since. Men who have labored to bring the mass of the common people from ignorance, irreligion, and general profligacy of manners, to an acquaintance with themselves and God, and to a proper knowledge of their duty to him and to each other, have been often... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 5:5

The people of the land now are many - The sanguinary edict had no doubt been long before repealed, or they could not have multiplied so greatly. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 5:6

The task-masters of the people and their officers - The task-masters were Egyptians, (see Clarke on Exodus 1:11 ; (note)), the officers were Hebrews; see Clarke below Exodus 5:14 ; (note). But it is probable that the task-masters Exodus 1:11 , who are called מסים שרי sarey missim , princes of the burdens or taxes, were different from those termed taskmasters here, as the words are different; נגשים nogesim signifies exactors or oppressors - persons who exacted from them an... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 5:3-9

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 5:3

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 5:4

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 5:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 5:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 5:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 5:4

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 5:5

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 5:6

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