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The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 5:1-4
A first interview. Accompanied by Aaron, Moses passes again through the hails of the Pharaohs from which he has been so long a stranger. Kings, courtiers, and people are different; but all else gates and pillars, courts…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 5:1-5
God's demand and Pharaoh's answer. I. THE DEMAND. 1. Its modesty. They merely ask liberty to depart on a three days' journey into the wilderness. 2. It was asked in good faith; it was not a cover for escape. God would g…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 5:2
Pharaoh's first response: his answer in word. Moses and Aaron, somehow or other, have found their way into Pharaoh's presence. All things, so far, have happened as God said they would happen. The very brevity and compac…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 5:2
And Pharaoh said, Who is the Lord? Rather, "Who is Jehovah?" Either Pharaoh is actually ignorant, or he pretends to be. The former is possible, since Jehovah was a name but little employed, until the return of Moses to…
Matthew Henry on Exodus 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. I. Their request is…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 5:3
And they said. Moses and Aaron are not abashed by a single refusal. They expostulate, and urge fresh reasons why Pharaoh should accede to their request. But first they explain that Jehovah is the God of the Hebrews, by…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 5:4
The king makes no direct reply to this appeal, but turns upon his petitioners, and charges them with an offence against the crown. Why do they, Moses and Aaron, by summoning the people to meet together, and exciting the…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 5:4-10
Increased cruelty. View Pharaoh's conduct as illustrative— I. OF THE VIEW WHICH A WORLDLY MAN TAXES OF RELIGION. "Ye are idle" (Exodus 5:8). This way of putting the matter was partly a pretext—a tyrant's excuse for addi…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 5:4-18
Pharaoh's first response: his answer in deed. Pharaoh has given a proud verbal refusal to the request of Moses: but he is not contented to stop with words. The first result, discouraging and discrediting of Moses' appli…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 5:5
The people are many. This is added as an aggravation of the offence charged in the last verse. The people are numerous. Therefore the greater damage is done to the crown by putting a stop to their labours. With these wo…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 5:6
The same day. Pharaoh lost no time. Having conceived his idea, he issued his order at once-on the very day of the interview with the two leaders. It would be well if the children of light were as "wise" and as energetic…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 5:6-9
EXPOSITION
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 5:6-9
Rulers are not always content simply to refuse inconvenient demands. Sometimes they set to work with much ingenuity and worldly wisdom to prevent their repetition. This is especially the case where they entertain a fear…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 5:6-9
The picture of a tyrant-crafty, energetic, and unsparing. Scripture contains abundant portraitures, not only of good, but also of bad men, the Holy Spirit seeming to be as desirous of arousing our indignation against vi…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 5:6-14
The increase of trouble for God's people no proof of the failure of his purpose. I. THE DEMANDS OF GOD PROVOKE THE WRATH OF THE UNGODLY. The mad persistence of Pharaoh in his injustice is marked— 1. In his haste: his co…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 5:7
Straw to make brick. Straw was used in Egypt to bind together the clay, or mud, which was, of course, the main material of the bricks. , to raise crops of cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic (Numbers 11:5), to…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 5:7
Bricks without straw. The requirement of "bricks without straw" is not always made by a tyrannical king. All employers of labour who expect certain results without allowing sufficient time for them, and then complain th…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 5:9
Vain words. There can be no doubt that "vain words" are unworthy of attention, deserve contempt, are foolish, unjustifiable. But what are "vain words'? What is the test whereby we are to know whether words are vain or n…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 5:9
Let there more work be laid upon the men. Rather, as in the margin, "Let the work be heavy upon the men." Let the tasks set them be such as to occupy all their time, and not leave them any spare moments in which they ma…
Matthew Henry on Exodus 5:10-23
The Egyptian task-masters were very severe. See what need we have to pray that we may be delivered from wicked men. The head-workmen justly complained to Pharaoh: but he taunted them. The malice of Satan has often repre…
Matthew Henry on Exodus 5:10-14
Pharaoh's orders are here put in execution; straw is denied, and yet the work not diminished. 1. The Egyptian task-masters were very severe. Pharaoh having decreed unrighteous decrees, the task-masters were ready to wri…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 5:10-14
The command of Pharaoh gone forth—no straw was to be provided for the Israelites, they were themselves to gather straw. The taskmasters could not soften the edict; they could only promulgate it (Exodus 5:10, Exodus 5:11…
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 5:10-14
EXPOSITION
The Pulpit Commentary on Exodus 5:10
The taskmasters … went out, i.e. quitted the royal palace to which they Had been summoned (Exodus 5:6), and proceeded to the places where the people worked. The vicinity of Zoan was probably one great brickfield. Thus s…