Exodus chapter 5
Moses and Aaron speak with Pharaoh. Gathering straw for bricks.
MOSES AND AARON SPEAK WITH PHARAOH
VERSE 1. Afterward Moses and Aaron came, and said to Pharaoh, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says, ‘Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.’ ”
Let my people go. This becomes the theme of the Book of Exodus.
VERSE 2. Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should listen to his voice to let Israel go? I don’t know the LORD, and moreover I will not let Israel go.”
Who is the LORD. This is THE question.
Eternal life is knowing God the Father and Jesus Christ. Do you know them? Do you have a love-relationship with them? Read more »
VERSE 3. They said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go three days’ journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the LORD, our God, lest he fall on us with pestilence, or with the sword.”
GATHERING STRAW FOR BRICKS
VERSE 4. The king of Egypt said to them, “Why do you, Moses and Aaron, take the people from their work? Get back to your burdens!”
VERSE 5. Pharaoh said, “Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens.”
VERSE 6. The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their officers, saying,
VERSE 7. “You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick, as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves.
VERSE 8. You shall require from them the number of the bricks which they made before. You shall not diminish anything of it, for they are idle. Therefore they cry, saying, ‘Let’s go and sacrifice to our God.’
they are idle; therefore they cry. Pharaoh has contempt for the people he leads.
Here, and in the verses that follow, he misrepresents the truth of about them. Pharaoh is unworthy of leadership.
VERSE 9. Let heavier work be laid on the men, that they may labor in it. Don’t let them pay any attention to lying words.”
VERSE 10. The taskmasters of the people went out with their officers, and they spoke to the people, saying, “This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I will not give you straw.
VERSE 11. Go yourselves, get straw where you can find it, for nothing of your work shall be diminished.’ ”
VERSE 12. So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw.
VERSE 13. The taskmasters were urgent saying, “Fulfill your work quota daily, as when there was straw!”
VERSE 14. The officers of the children of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and were asked, “Why haven’t you fulfilled your quota both yesterday and today, in making brick as before?”
VERSE 15. Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, saying, “Why do you deal this way with your servants?
VERSE 16. No straw is given to your servants, and they tell us, ‘Make brick!’ and behold, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people.”
behold, your servants are beaten. Pharaoh stoops to the level of torture.
It is an obvious sign of weakness when a leader orders the use of torture.
VERSE 17. But Pharaoh said, “You are idle! You are idle! Therefore you say, ‘Let’s go and sacrifice to the LORD.’
VERSE 18. Go therefore now, and work; for no straw shall be given to you; yet you shall deliver the same number of bricks!”
VERSE 19. The officers of the children of Israel saw that they were in trouble when it was said, “You shall not diminish anything from your daily quota of bricks!”
VERSE 20. They met Moses and Aaron, who stood along the way, as they came out from Pharaoh.
VERSE 21. They said to them, “May the LORD look at you and judge, because you have made us a stench to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us!”
you have made us a stench. The people blame Moses for their troubles.
Moses had explained to them that the LORD God was going to liberate them from their slavery. That is the long-term goal. But in the short-term, their suffering was increasing.
When a goal is not yet fulfilled, we must keep the vision in mind.
VERSE 22. Moses returned to the LORD, and said, “Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Why is it that you have sent me?
Why is it that you have sent me? Moses pours out his heart to God.
The calling upon Moses was not easy. Doubtless he felt terrible stress.
VERSE 23. For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people. You have not rescued your people at all!”
EXODUS
CHAPTERS: 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 06, 07, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40
RESOURCES: Summary, Outline, Memorize, Pharaoh’s Heart, Moses’ fast
Unless otherwise noted, all Bible quotations on this page are from the World English Bible and the World Messianic Edition. These translations have no copyright restrictions. They are in the Public Domain.