Bible Commentaries
Exodus 5

Introduction

Overview

Exodus 5:1, Pharaoh chides Moses and Aaron for their message; Exodus 5:6, He increases the Israelites’ task; Exodus 5:15, He checks their complaints; Exodus 5:19, They cry out upon Moses and Aaron; Exodus 5:22, Moses complains to God.

Verse 1

and told: 1 Kings 21:20, Psalms 119:46, Ezekiel 2:6, Jonah 3:3, Jonah 3:4, Matthew 10:18, Matthew 10:28, Acts 4:29

a feast: Exodus 10:9, Isaiah 25:6, 1 Corinthians 5:8

Reciprocal: Genesis 15:13 - thy Exodus 3:18 - and thou Exodus 6:11 - General Exodus 6:27 - spake Exodus 7:16 - serve Exodus 8:1 - Let my Exodus 8:27 - three days' Exodus 9:1 - General Exodus 12:14 - a feast Numbers 12:2 - Hath the Lord 1 Kings 18:21 - if the Lord Jeremiah 27:4 - Thus

Verse 2

Who: Exodus 3:19, 2 Kings 18:35, 2 Chronicles 32:15, 2 Chronicles 32:19, Job 21:15, Psalms 10:4, Psalms 12:4, Psalms 14:1

I know not: 1 Samuel 2:12, John 16:3, Romans 1:28, 2 Thessalonians 1:8

neither: Exodus 3:19, Jeremiah 44:16, Jeremiah 44:17

Reciprocal: Genesis 3:5 - as gods Exodus 7:17 - thou shalt Exodus 8:8 - Entreat Exodus 18:11 - in the thing Judges 2:10 - knew not 1 Samuel 25:10 - Who is David 1 Kings 12:13 - answered 1 Kings 18:21 - if the Lord 2 Kings 19:22 - Whom Nehemiah 9:10 - they Job 15:25 - strengtheneth Job 18:21 - knoweth Job 41:34 - he is Psalms 17:10 - with Psalms 73:9 - set Proverbs 18:23 - rich Proverbs 30:9 - Who Isaiah 36:20 - that the Lord Isaiah 37:23 - Whom hast Jeremiah 42:13 - General Jeremiah 43:2 - all the Jeremiah 48:26 - for he Jeremiah 50:33 - they refused Daniel 3:15 - and who Malachi 3:13 - Your 2 Corinthians 10:5 - and every Galatians 4:8 - when James 3:5 - so

Verse 3

The God: Exodus 3:18

lest he: Deuteronomy 28:21, 2 Kings 17:25, 2 Chronicles 30:8, Ezra 7:23, Ezekiel 6:11, Zechariah 14:16-19

Reciprocal: Genesis 22:4 - third Exodus 7:16 - The Lord Exodus 9:3 - murrain Exodus 10:9 - a feast Numbers 14:12 - smite 1 Kings 13:8 - If Job 15:25 - strengtheneth 2 Corinthians 11:22 - Hebrews

Verse 4

wherefore: Jeremiah 38:4, Amos 7:10, Luke 23:2, Acts 16:20, Acts 16:21, Acts 24:5

let: Taphreeoo, from pard, to loose, disengage; and which we render let, from the Anglo-Saxon lettan, to hinder. Ye hinder the people from their work: "Get you unto your burdens." "Let religion alone and mind your work." The language not only of tyranny, but of thoughtless irreligion.

burdens: Exodus 1:11

Reciprocal: Exodus 6:7 - from under Exodus 10:11 - And they Jeremiah 32:3 - Wherefore

Verse 5

Exodus 1:7-11, Proverbs 14:28

Reciprocal: Exodus 1:11 - burdens Exodus 6:7 - from under 1 Kings 12:11 - I will add 2 Chronicles 10:11 - I will put

Verse 6

taskmasters: Nogesim, literally, exactors, oppressors. These taskmasters were Egyptians - Exodus 1:11, but the officers were Hebrews. Exodus 5:14. Exodus 5:10, Exodus 5:13, Exodus 5:15, Exodus 5:19, Exodus 1:11, Proverbs 12:10

officers: Shoterim, from the Arabic saytara, to overlook, superintend, seems to denote, as musaytar in Arabic also does, overseers, superintendents. They may have been somewhat like the chiefs of trades, who are found in every city in the East; where every trade has a head, who is entrusted with authority over them, and is in some measure answerable for them to Government. Compare Exodus 2:14. Numbers 11:16, Deuteronomy 1:15, Deuteronomy 16:18, Joshua 8:33, Joshua 24:1, Joshua 24:4, 2 Chronicles 26:11

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 13:8 - If Job 3:18 - they

Verse 7

straw: The straw was mixed with clay, in order to make the bricks. This is expressly affirmed by Philo - vit. Mos. who was himself a native of Alexandria, in Egypt. He says, describing the oppression of the Israelites, that some were obliged to work in clay, and others to gather straw for the formation of bricks, נכיםטןץ דבס בקץסב הוףלןע, because straw is the binding of the brick. Philo's account is confirmed by Dr. Shaw, who says that "some of the Egyptian pyramids are made of brick, the composition whereof is only a mixture of clay, mud, and straw, slightly blended and kneaded together, and afterwards baked in the sun. The straw, which keeps the bricks together, and still preserves its original colour, seems to be a proof that these bricks were never burnt or made in kilns." The same materials are now used for building in Egypt. Mr. Baumgarten says, "The houses are for the most part of bricks that are only hardened by the heat of the sun, and mixed with straw to make them firm." Genesis 24:25, Judges 19:19

Reciprocal: Genesis 11:3 - brick Exodus 1:14 - was with rigour Exodus 18:11 - in the thing Nehemiah 9:10 - they Psalms 129:1 - have they

Verse 8

tale: Tale denotes number, from the Anglo-Saxon taellan, to number, count, etc.

ye shall lay: Psalms 106:41

Reciprocal: Nehemiah 9:10 - they John 12:5 - was

Verse 9

Let there more work be laid upon the men: Heb. Let the work be heavy upon the men

vain words: 2 Kings 18:20, Job 16:3, Jeremiah 43:2, Zechariah 1:6, Malachi 3:14, Ephesians 5:6

Reciprocal: Exodus 2:11 - burdens Deuteronomy 26:6 - General

Verse 10

taskmasters: Exodus 1:11, Proverbs 29:12

Reciprocal: Exodus 5:6 - taskmasters Isaiah 30:6 - into the land

Verse 11

not ought: Exodus 5:13, Exodus 5:14

Verse 12

stubble: Exodus 15:7, Isaiah 5:24, Isaiah 47:14, Joel 2:5, Nahum 1:10, Obadiah 1:18, 1 Corinthians 3:12

Verse 13

daily tasks: Heb. a matter of a day in his day

Reciprocal: Exodus 5:6 - taskmasters Exodus 5:11 - not ought Ezra 3:4 - as the duty of every day required Job 39:7 - driver

Verse 14

Reciprocal: Exodus 2:11 - burdens Exodus 5:6 - taskmasters Exodus 5:11 - not ought Leviticus 25:43 - rule Numbers 20:15 - vexed us Isaiah 3:15 - ye beat

Verse 15

Reciprocal: Exodus 1:11 - to afflict Exodus 5:6 - taskmasters Job 3:18 - they

Verse 16

Reciprocal: Ecclesiastes 4:1 - and considered Ezekiel 16:4 - for

Verse 17

Matthew 26:8, John 6:27, 2 Thessalonians 3:10, 2 Thessalonians 3:11

Reciprocal: John 12:5 - was Romans 12:11 - slothful

Verse 18

yet shall ye deliver: Ezekiel 18:18, Daniel 2:9-13

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 12:11 - I will add 2 Chronicles 10:11 - I will put Job 39:7 - driver Psalms 107:12 - he brought

Verse 19

evil case: Deuteronomy 32:36, Ecclesiastes 4:1, Ecclesiastes 5:8

Reciprocal: Genesis 42:1 - saw Exodus 5:6 - taskmasters Exodus 6:12 - children Deuteronomy 26:6 - General Psalms 107:12 - he brought

Verse 21

The Lord: Exodus 4:31, Exodus 6:9, Genesis 16:5

our savour: Ecclesiastes 10:1, Joel 2:20, 2 Corinthians 2:15, 2 Corinthians 2:16

to be abhorred: Heb. to stink, Genesis 34:30, 1 Samuel 13:4, 1 Samuel 27:12, 2 Samuel 10:6, 1 Chronicles 19:6

Reciprocal: Exodus 14:12 - Is not this Exodus 16:3 - to kill Exodus 17:2 - the people Numbers 20:4 - why 1 Kings 18:9 - What have I sinned Jeremiah 31:2 - The people

Verse 22

returned: Exodus 17:4, 1 Samuel 30:6, Psalms 73:25, Jeremiah 12:1

why is it: Numbers 11:14, Numbers 11:15, 1 Kings 19:4, 1 Kings 19:10, Jeremiah 20:7, Habakkuk 2:3

Reciprocal: Exodus 14:11 - wherefore Joshua 7:7 - wherefore Isaiah 26:18 - we have not 2 Corinthians 7:8 - though I did

Verse 23

in thy name: Psalms 118:26, Jeremiah 11:21, John 5:43

neither hast thou delivered: Heb. delivering, thou hast not delivered, Isaiah 26:17, Isaiah 26:18, Isaiah 28:16, Hebrews 10:36, Hebrews 10:37

Reciprocal: Exodus 6:11 - General Deuteronomy 26:6 - General Joshua 7:7 - wherefore Jeremiah 20:7 - deceived Mark 9:26 - cried 2 Corinthians 7:8 - though I did