Exodus 5:7-12

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

Matthew Henry

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 5:7

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 5:8

And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, you shall lay upon them ,.... Oblige them to make and bring in the same number of bricks they used to do, when straw was brought to them and given them; by which it appears, that their daily task was such a number of bricks: you shall not diminish ought thereof ; not make any abatement of the number of bricks, in consideration of their loss of time and their labour in going to fetch straw from other places: for they be idle ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 5:9

Let there more work be laid upon the men ,.... Instead of lessening it, let it be increased, or "be heavy" F11 תכבד "aggravetur", Pagninus, Montanus, &c.; upon them, that it may oppress and afflict them and keep them down, and weaken their strength and their spirits, and diminish them: that they may labour therein ; and have no leisure time to spend in idleness and sloth: and let them not regard vain words ; or "words of falsehood" F12 בדברי "in verbis mendacii",... 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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 5:11

Go ye, get ye straw, where you can find it ,.... Before it was provided by the king, and brought to the brickkilns, but now they are bid to go and fetch it themselves, and get it where they could, whether in fields or barns; and if they were obliged to pay for it out of their labour; it was a greater oppression still: yet not ought of your work shall be diminished ; they were to do the same work, and make the same number of bricks, as when straw was brought and given them; and no... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 5:12

So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt ,.... That part of it where they dwelt: to gather stubble instead of straw ; straw not being easy to come at, they were obliged to gather stubble that was left in the fields, after the corn was gathered in. Ben Melech observes, that the word signifies small straw, or small sticks of wood, and Kimchi F13 Sepher Shorash, rad. קשש . , and if so, this must be to burn the bricks with in the furnaces. 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

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Exodus 5:8

And the tale of the bricks - Tale signifies the number, from the Anglo-Saxon to number, to count, etc. For they be idle; therefore they cry - Let us go and sacrifice - Thus their desire to worship the true God in a proper manner was attributed to their unwillingness to work; a reflection which the Egyptians (in principle) of the present day cast on these who, while they are fervent in spirit serving the Lord, are not slothful in business. See Clarke below Exodus 5:17 ; (note). read more

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