Read & Study the Bible Online - Bible Portal
John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 5:6

Verse 6 6.And Pharaoh commanded. We shall more clearly perceive, as the narrative proceeds, that these taskmasters and officers were taken from amongst the children of Israel, although we have before read that some were Egyptians. But, as tyrants are ingenious in securing their own interests, Pharaoh in his subtlety wished to provide that none should escape, but that all alike should be brought in turn to the labor. For some, in such a multitude, might have evaded the Egyptians; but, when the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 5:1-4

A first interview. Accompanied by Aaron, Moses passes again through the hails of the Pharaohs from which he has been so long a stranger. Kings, courtiers, and people are different; but all else gates and pillars, courts, corridors, and reception-rooms—how unchanged since first he knew them! The feelings of the quondam prince must have been strangely mingled, as, after forty years of exile, he trod the familiar pavements, and looked upon the old splendours. But the narrative, absorbed in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 5:1-5

Having secured the adhesion of the Israelitish people, Moses and Aaron sought an interview with the Egyptian monarch who was now in possession of the throne. According to the bulk of modern authorities, and according to our own views of Egyptian history, this was Menephthah,the son and successor of Rameses II . Menephthah was a weak prince, whom events had favoured, and who had been thus led to have an exalted opinion of himself. A great invasion of Egypt had occurred at the beginning of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 5:1-5

God's will often opposed by the great of the earth, and his servants rebuffed. Encouraged by their success with the elders and with the people ( Exodus 4:29-31 ), Moses and Aaron would stop boldly into the presence of Pharaoh. It was, no doubt, known that they represented the feelings of an entire nation, a nation moreover of whom the Egyptians had begun to be afraid ( Exodus 1:9 , Exodus 1:10 ). The courtiers would treat them, at any rate, with outward politeness and respect. They... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Exodus 5:1-5

God's demand and Pharaoh's answer. I. THE DEMAND . 1 . Its modesty. They merely ask liberty to depart on a three days' journey into the wilderness. 2 . It was asked in good faith; it was not a cover for escape. God would give deliverance; but that was left in God's hand; and meanwhile they asked only for liberty to worship him. 3 . Its reasonableness: they could not sacrifice the sacred animals of the Egyptians before their faces. 4 . Its necessity. Pharaoh might not... 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

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

Group of Brands