Exodus 5:4-7

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 5:4

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 5:4

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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 5:7

Straw to make brick - There have been many conjectures concerning the use of straw in making bricks. Some suppose it was used merely for burning them, but this is unfounded. The eastern bricks are often made of clay and straw kneaded together, and then not burned, but thoroughly dried in the sun. This is expressly mentioned by Philo in his life of Moses, who says, describing the oppression of the Israelites in Egypt, that some were obliged to work in clay for the formation of bricks, and... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 5:4

Verse 4 4.And the king of Egypt said unto them. It is surprising that the king, in the excess of his arrogance, did not more cruelly entreat these servants of God, whom he accounted the ringleaders of sedition. But he was undoubtedly restrained by God from proceeding at once to destroy them. By his pertinacity in resisting their departure, he will more clearly shew by and bye how important to his interests he considered it that the people should remain in Egypt; how comes it then that he is... read more

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