5 And Pharaoh H6547 said, H559 Behold, the people H5971 of the land H776 now are many, H7227 and ye make them rest H7673 from their burdens. H5450
And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 were fruitful, H6509 and increased abundantly, H8317 and multiplied, H7235 and waxed exceeding H3966 H3966 mighty; H6105 and the land H776 was filled H4390 with them. Now there arose up H6965 a new H2319 king H4428 over Egypt, H4714 which knew H3045 not Joseph. H3130 And he said H559 unto his people, H5971 Behold, the people H5971 of the children H1121 of Israel H3478 are more H7227 and mightier H6099 than we: Come on, H3051 let us deal wisely H2449 with them; lest they multiply, H7235 and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out H7122 any war, H4421 they H1931 join H3254 also unto our enemies, H8130 and fight H3898 against us, and so get them up H5927 out of the land. H776 Therefore they did set H7760 over them taskmasters H4522 H8269 to afflict H6031 them with their burdens. H5450 And they built H1129 for Pharaoh H6547 treasure H4543 cities, H5892 Pithom H6619 and Raamses. H7486
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,