Exodus 5

Moseh and Aaron declare unto Pharaoh, what God had charged them to deliver unto him, v.1, & c. He withstands and checks them, 4.The Israelites burdens are increased, 5. They murmur against Moseh and Aaron, 20. Moseh complains of it to God, 22. God promiseth to deliver them, 24.

1. And after that, Moseh and Aaron went, and said to Pharao, Thus saith the LORD, the God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may keep me a feast in the wilderness.

2. But Pharao said, Who is the LORD, whose voice I should obey, for to let Israel go? I do not know the LORD, neither shall I let Israel go.

3. Then they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met us ; therefore let us go ( we pray) the way of three days into the wildernesse, and to sacrifice unto the LORD our God, hath he do not seize on us with pestilence, or with the sword.

4. Then the King of Egypt said unto them, Thou Moseh and Aaron, wherefore withdraw ye the people from their works ? Go (your ways) to your burthens.

5. Moreover, Pharao said, Behold the people of the land [he speaketh of the people of Israel in the land of Egypt] is (too) many already ; and should ye make them to rest from their burdens? [By these words Pharao gives to understand, wherefore he laid such heavie burdens upon the Israelites, namely, to exhaust and waste all their vigour, and thus to hinder and impair their propagation.]

6. Therefore Pharao commanded on that same day the exactors among the people, [these were Egyptians, v.14. That were set over the Israelite-officers] and the officers of the same, [these were Israelites, v.14. Under the command of the foresaid Egyptians exactors] saying,

7. Ye shall henceforward give these people no straw more [Heb.ye shall not adde to give, & c.] for the making of bricks, ( or, tile-stones) [Heb. to brick bricks, or tile tile-stones] as yeserday and eve yesterday : let them go themselves, and gather straw for themselves.

8. And ye shall impose them the number [or, sum, measure] of the bricks, which they made yesterday and eve yesterday ; ye shall not lessen the same : for they go (or,grow) idle ; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go, let us sacrifice to our God.

9. Let the service be maade heavie upon these men, that they may have (enough) of it to do, and gape (or gad) not about , on lying words, [Heb. words of lying, or, falshood.This wicked king calls the words of God, lying words : or else, he would be understood, they were lyes, what Moseh and Aaron spake of being sent by God.]

10. Then the exactors of the people, and their officers, went forth, and spake to the people , saying, Thus saith Pharao, I shall give you no straw.

11. Go ye (your selves) fetch you straw, where ye finde it : yet of your service nothing shall be lessened. [Heb. no word, i.e. no thing.]

12. Then the people scattered themselves in all the land of Egypt, to gather stubble in stead of straw.

13. And the exactors pressed on, saying, Complete your works, (each) days work upon its day, as when there was straw.

14. And the officers of the children of Israel, whom Pharao's exactors had put over them, were beaten, and told, [Heb. saying] Wherefore have ye not completed your set work (or, your task) in making of bricks, as formerly , [Heb. as yesterday, eve yesterday] so also yesterday and to day?

15. Therefore the officers of the children of Israel went, and cried to Pharao, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?

16. Thy servants have no straw given them, and they say to us, [they, viz. the exactors] Make the bricks : [oth. The bricks, they tell us, Ye shall make] and behold, thy servants are beaten ; yet the fault is thy peoples, [viz. the Egyptians, delivering no straw to us, and nevertheless requiring the ordinary task and days work at our hands. Otherwise, And thy people, to wit, the Israelites, must be blamed ,or faulty.]

17. Then he said, Ye are idle, idle are ye ; therefore ye say, Let us go, let us sacrifice unto the LORD.

18. Go to now then, (labour) yet no straw shall be given you, ye shall deliver the number of bricks.

19. Then the officers of the children of Israel saw that it stood (or, went) ill with, [Heb, that they were in the evil] being they were told, ye shall not lessen your bricks from the task on its day. [as ab.v.13. Oth (deliver) the days work, (or task) on this day]

20. And they met Moseh and Aaron, who stood over gain if they went forth from Pharao;

21. And said unto them, THE LORD look upon you, [i.e. the LORD take notice of this, and consider what ye have brought upon us. See Gen. 31. on v. 42.] and judge (it) [See Gen 15.v14.v.5.] because ye have made our savour to stink before Pharao, and before his servants, [Hebbefore the eyes of the Pharao, and before the eyes of his servants] giving a sword into their hands, to slay us, [viz. by having made us hateful to Pharao. See Genesis 34:30]

22. Then Moseh returned to the LORD, [i.e. he belooked himself to a certain retired place, where, by prayer and hearty sighs, he might pour our and present his own and the people distress and extremity unto the LORD] and said, Lord, why host thou done evil to this people? Wherefore hast thou sent me now?

23. For since the time that I went in to Pharao, for to speak in thy Name, [i.e. in thy behalf, on thy command: so Ezr.5.1. Psal. 118.26 Job.5.43.] he hath dealt ill with this people: and thou hast in no wise delivered thy people. [Heb. Delivering not delivered.]

24. Then [the LORD said to Moseh, Now thou shalt see, what I will do to Pharao: for he shall let them go, through a mighty hand, [i.e. through my own power, by meer force and compulsion: see the fulfilling thereof, Exod.12. and 13 Chap.] yea, through a mighty hand shall be drive them out of his land.