21 And they said H559 unto them, The LORD H3068 look H7200 upon you, and judge; H8199 because ye have made our savour H7381 to be abhorred H887 in the eyes H5869 of Pharaoh, H6547 and in the eyes H5869 of his servants, H5650 to put H5414 a sword H2719 in their hand H3027 to slay H2026 us.
And Jacob H3290 said H559 to Simeon H8095 and Levi, H3878 Ye have troubled H5916 me to make me to stink H887 among the inhabitants H3427 of the land, H776 among the Canaanites H3669 and the Perizzites: H6522 and I being few H4962 in number, H4557 they shall gather themselves together H622 against me, and slay me; H5221 and I shall be destroyed, H8045 I and my house. H1004
And all Israel H3478 heard H8085 say H559 that Saul H7586 had smitten H5221 a garrison H5333 of the Philistines, H6430 and that Israel H3478 also was had in abomination H887 with the Philistines. H6430 And the people H5971 were called together H6817 after H310 Saul H7586 to Gilgal. H1537
And Achish H397 believed H539 David, H1732 saying, H559 He hath made his people H5971 Israel H3478 utterly H887 to abhor H887 him; therefore he shall be my servant H5650 for ever. H5769
And when the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 saw H7200 that they stank H887 before David, H1732 the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 sent H7971 and hired H7936 the Syrians H758 of Bethrehob, H1050 and the Syrians H758 of Zoba, H6678 twenty H6242 thousand H505 footmen, H7273 and of king H4428 Maacah H4601 a thousand H505 men, H376 and of Ishtob H382 twelve H6240 H8147 thousand H505 men. H376
And when the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 saw H7200 that they had made themselves odious H887 to David, H1732 Hanun H2586 and the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 sent H7971 a thousand H505 talents H3603 of silver H3701 to hire H7936 them chariots H7393 and horsemen H6571 out of Mesopotamia, H763 and out of Syriamaachah, H758 H4601 and out of Zobah. H6678
Dead H4194 flies H2070 cause the ointment H8081 of the apothecary H7543 to send forth H5042 a stinking savour: H887 so doth a little H4592 folly H5531 him that is in reputation H3368 for wisdom H2451 and honour. H3519
But I will remove far off H7368 from you the northern H6830 army, and will drive H5080 him into a land H776 barren H6723 and desolate, H8077 with his face H6440 toward the east H6931 sea, H3220 and his hinder part H5490 toward the utmost H314 sea, H3220 and his stink H889 shall come up, H5927 and his ill savour H6709 shall come up, H5927 because he hath done H6213 great things. H1431
For G3754 we are G2070 unto God G2316 a sweet savour G2175 of Christ, G5547 in G1722 them that are saved, G4982 and G2532 in G1722 them that perish: G622 To G3739 the one G3303 we are the savour G3744 of death G2288 unto G1519 death; G2288 and G1161 to the other G3739 the savour G3744 of life G2222 unto G1519 life. G2222 And G2532 who G5101 is sufficient G2425 for G4314 these things? G5023
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Exodus 5
Commentary on Exodus 5 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 5
Moses and Aaron are here dealing with Pharaoh, to get leave of him to go and worship in the wilderness.
Exd 5:1-2
Moses and Aaron, having delivered their message to the elders of Israel, with whom they found good acceptance, are now to deal with Pharaoh, to whom they come in peril of their lives-Moses particularly, who perhaps was out-lawed for killing the Egyptian forty years before, so that if any of the old courtiers should happen to remember that against him now it might cost him his head. Their message itself was displeasing, and touch Pharaoh both in his honour and in his profit, two tender points; yet these faithful ambassadors boldly deliver it, whether he will hear or whether he will forbear.
Exd 5:3-9
Finding that Pharaoh had no veneration at all for God, Moses and Aaron next try whether he had any compassion for Israel, and become humble suitors to him for leave to go and sacrifice, but in vain.
Exd 5:10-14
Pharaoh's orders are here put in execution; straw is denied, and yet the work not diminished.
Exd 5:15-23
It was a great strait that the head-workmen were in, when they must either abuse those that were under them or be abused by those that were over them; yet, it should seem, rather than they would tyrannize, they would be tyrannized over; and they were so. In this evil case (v. 19), observe,