Exodus 5

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 5

Moses and Aaron are here dealing with Pharaoh, to get leave of him to go and worship in the wilderness. I. They demand leave in the name of God (Exod. 5:1), and he answers their demand with a defiance of God, Exod. 5:2. II. They beg leave in the name of Israel (Exod. 5:3), and he answers their request with further orders to oppress Israel, Exod. 5:4-9. These cruel orders were, 1. Executed by the task-masters, Exod. 5:10-14. 2. Complained of to Pharaoh, but in vain, Exod. 5:15-19. 3. Complained... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 5:1-2

Moses and Aaron, having delivered their message to the elders of Israel, with whom they found good acceptance, are now to deal with Pharaoh, to whom they come in peril of their lives?Moses particularly, who perhaps was out-lawed for killing the Egyptian forty years before, so that if any of the old courtiers should happen to remember that against him now it might cost him his head. Their message itself was displeasing, and touch Pharaoh both in his honour and in his profit, two tender points;... read more

Matthew Henry

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Exodus 5:15-23

It was a great strait that the head-workmen were in, when they must either abuse those that were under them or be abused by those that were over them; yet, it should seem, rather than they would tyrannize, they would be tyrannized over; and they were so. In this evil case (Exod. 5:19), observe, I. How justly they complained to Pharaoh: They came and cried unto Pharaoh, Exod. 5:15. Whither should they go with a remonstrance of their grievances but to the supreme power, which is ordained for the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 5

INTRODUCTION TO EXODUS 5 Moses and Aaron go in to Pharaoh, and desire leave for the children of Israel to go into the wilderness three days' journey, to sacrifice to the Lord, and are answered in a very churlish and atheistical manner, and are charged with making the people idle, the consequence of which was, the taskmasters had orders, to make their work more heavy and toilsome, Exodus 5:1 which orders were executed with severity by them, Exodus 5:10 , upon which the officers of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 5:1

And afterwards Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh ,.... Whose name, some say, was Cenchres, others Amenophis, according to Manetho and Chaeremon F8 Apud Joseph. contr. Apion. l. 1. c. 26. 32. ; See Gill on Exodus 3:10 went into Pharaoh's palace, and being introduced by the proper officer at court for that purpose, addressed him in the following manner: thus saith the Lord God of Israel : as ambassadors of him, who is King of kings, and Lord of lords; and so Artapanus F9 ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Exodus 5:2

And Pharaoh said, who is the Lord ,.... Jehovah, they made mention of, which, whether he took it for the name of a deity, or of a king, whose ambassadors they declared themselves to be, was a name he had never heard of before; and this being expressed and pronounced, shows that this name is not ineffable, or unlawful to be pronounced, as say the Jews: that I should obey his voice, to let Israel go ? he knew of no superior monarch to him, whose orders he was obliged to obey in any... 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

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