Exodus 5

Exodus 5:1

MOses and Aaron] With the Elders, as God appointed, Chap. 3. vers. 18. but as some thinke they went alone; because they alone are named here; and in the fourth verse, and because in stead of the Elders appointed, Chap. 3. vers. 18. God seemeth to have appointed Aaron for Moses his companion, Chap. 4. vers. 14.

told Pharaoh] They both spake the same thing, or one of them by consent of both: as Peter and John, Acts 4:19.

hold a feast] Chap. 10. 9. Moses is directed to desire leave to offer sacrifice unto the Lord; it is so also, vers. 3. of this Chap. yet no repugnance: for part of sacrifices served for a feast, and both belonged to the same persons, and in both the honour belonged to God, 1 King. 8. vers. 63, 64, 65.

Exodus 5:2

Who is the Lord] Job 21:15.

Exodus 5:3

lest he fall] Though the wicked (through hardnesse of heart) contemn the Lord, the godly must, and will be afraid to offend him: and they must feare him, not onely with a loving reverence, as a father, but with an awfull dread of his displeasure, as a powerfull Judge, who will powre out his plagues on them, who wilfully harden themselves against him. See 2 Kings 17:25. Ezra 7:23. Zac 14:17. 2 Chron. 29. 7, 8. & chap. 30. 8. In this denunciation of danger to themselves, they imply some perill to Pharaoh, which afterward they set forth in expresse Comminations.

Exodus 5:4

Wherefore doe ye] It is strange that such a Tyrant dealt not with Moses and Aaron with more severitie, then rough and reproachfull words: since (in the wicked) the tongue of slander, and the heart of murder meete together, against Gods people: See Jeremiah 38:4. But the same power, that wrought wonders, bounded his malignitie within this compasse.

get you to your burdens] Chap. 3. 16. Moses is commanded to gather together the Elders of Israel, it is like these came with him, and Aaron, and it may be many of the ordinary workemen left their worke to hearken after the successe of their Mediation, and to them, not to Moses, and Aaron (who had not put their hands to the work) he said, get you to your burdens.

Exodus 5:5

are many] Hence it is probable, that the bloudy Decree of drowning, or killing the Male children, did not prevaile at all, or but for a while.

Exodus 5:6

Officers] These Officers were Hebrews, vers. 14. and 19. set over the workmen, but under the Egyptian task-masters, who had power over them both.

Exodus 5:7

no more straw] The use of the straw was, either to binde the clay together, lest it should be too brittle; or to cover it that it might not be chopt with heat, or winde; or to harden it, (by burning in the furnace) or at least, to kindle the fires of other fewell: this was brought to their hands till now, by those on whom the taske of brick, (whether by tale or heap) was not imposed; now the same men must so divide the service between them, as to do both, and yet no abatement of their labour in making, or burning brick, will be allowed.

as heretofore] Heb. as yesterday, or the day before yesterday: So in the next vers. and vers. 14.

Exodus 5:9

more worke upon them] The more that Tyrants are intreated, the more they tyrannize, taking occasion by the request, (as sinne by the Commandement) to rage the more. See Rom. 7. 12, 13.

vaine words] Of Moses and Aaron: wilfull wicked ones contemne the word both of God, and the worthiest men, if it sound not according to their corrupt and distempered passions.

Exodus 5:12

scattered] Part of them tempered the clay, part formed the bricks, part of them yeeled, or burnt them, and part of them went abroad to gather straw.

Exodus 5:19

dayly task] Heb. Matter of a day: or in his day.

Exodus 5:20

they met Moses] As they came from Pharaoh, the Hebrew Officers of the people met them, to know what answer the King had returned to them

Exodus 5:21

ye have made our savour] Ignorant and passionate people (by mistaking occasions for causes) charge the injuries of their greatest enemies upon their best friends.

to be abhorred] Heb. to stinke. The like phrase is used by Jacob, concerning (his two sonnes) Simeon and Levi, Genesis 34:30.

Exodus 5:22

evill intreated] By giving an occasion of more affliction to thy people, against whom the Tyrants rage is not mitigated at all, but more aggravated since I mediated for them then before: In which pleading with God Moses sheweth himselfe, (though with some mixture of displeasure) rather zealous for God, then contumacious against him, and this rather by way of inquisition, then of peremptory resolution.

Exodus 5:23

hast not delivered] God though he promise deliverance, leaveth a libertie to himselfe both for the time, and manner of performance, and must not be thought to deny it when he doth but deferre it.

hast not delivered] Heb. in delivering thou hast not delivered. That is thou hast not at all delivered them.