Verse 5
5. Our flesh is as… our brethren Having separately stated their several grievances, they now unitedly urge the common oppressiveness of them all. They are all one race, descendants of a common sire, and, therefore, brethren of the same flesh and blood.
Bring into bondage… to be servants Literally, tread down to servants; that is, subject to the condition of slaves. The law allowed such sale of children. See Exodus 21:7; Leviticus 25:39.
Some of our daughters The subjection of these weaker and more helpless ones to the condition of bondmaids is emphasized as something specially severe.
Neither is it in our power to redeem them Literally, and nothing to the power of our hand, or, nothing of power [is in] our hand, ל having here its genitive, or possessive sense. The word אל , here rendered power, is commonly rendered God, and Bertheau translates and explains the words thus: And not to the God is our hand; that is, we have not the power, as that of a God, to change or put an end to our wretched condition. But the more natural and simple meaning is that given above; these oppressed ones had no power to help themselves. Comp. the same expression in Genesis 31:29; Deuteronomy 28:32; Proverbs 3:27; Micah 2:1.
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