Êxodo 5

Êxodo 5

Clarke - The eastern bricks are often made of clay and straw kneaded together, and then not burned, but thoroughly dried in the sun. This is expressly mentioned by Philo … ‘because straw is the bond by which the brick is held together.’ ” THOUGHT - Sometimes (or perhaps many times) when we obey the call of God, things do not get better, but they actually get worse! Now in Exodus 5:6-14 we see a description of the severe measures ordered by the king to increase the difficulty of the brick making by forcing the slaves to provide their own straw. The NET Note adds that "The emphasis in this section must be on the harsh treatment of the people and Pharaoh’s reason for it—he accuses them of idleness because they want to go and worship. The real reason, of course, is that he wants to discredit Moses (v. 9) and keep the people as slaves." And yet clearly God is allowing the conditions to worsen for the Hebrews, even though it will have a temporary impact on Moses' credibility as the people blame him for the Pharaoh's increasingly harsh requirements. These worsening conditions will make it far less likely that the Hebrews would want to stay in Egypt when they finally are set free by Pharaoh. Years later after the 70 years of exile in Babylon when "Cyrus issued his decree permitting the Jews to return to their homeland and rebuild the temple, most of the exiled Jews remained in Babylon, where they had settled down and prospered during the exile period." But given the worsening labor conditions with Pharaoh, the Jews would gladly leave Egypt for the land promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. So although Pharaoh meant it for evil, God used it for good, just as He had with Joseph's situation which he described in Ge 50:20 "As for you (HIS BROTHERS), you meant evil against me (JOSEPH), but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive." And so by analogy, God would use the increasingly difficult circumstances to motivate the entire nation of Israel to follow their deliverer Moses. Mattoon - Years ago, a small group of Japanese believers were heckled and abused whenever they assembled to worship the Savior, but the persecutors could not shake the faith of the new converts. Each time the Christians gathered, the mob would throw stones at them, but they still faithfully continued to have their weekly meetings. Eventually the opposition became so great that the outdoor services had to be temporarily abandoned. Later, when a time of relative peace and tolerance had come to the community, many were won to Christ. Returning to the spot where the believers had frequently been attacked, they began to pick up some of the rocks. Using them as part of the building materials, they constructed a small house of worship, rejoicing that God had worked all things together for good. Jesus says that His followers will meet with suffering and heartache, but He admonishes them not to be discouraged. Earth's sorrows are meant to be stepping stones in the process of sanctification. Glorying in affliction will turn our troubles into spiritual triumphs! Exodus 5:8 "But the quota of bricks which they were making previously, you shall impose on them; you are not to reduce any of it. Because they are lazy, therefore they cry out, 'Let us go and sacrifice to our God.' lay - Ps 106:41 Exodus 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries LAZY LOAFERS SLAVES ARE SLACKERS! A slacker is one who shirks (avoids, neglects) work or responsibility. But the quota of bricks which they were making previously, you shall impose on them; you are not to reduce any of it - Pharaoh is a hard master, which reminds me of Pharaoh's "ruler" Satan who is a hard "master" to all who are still in bondage to sin and Satan! Dear believer, do not fall into a sin and back under the yoke of slavery to sin and Satan, because Christ has set us free to live as free men in the power of His Spirit (cf Ro 8:13+) and His blessed easy yoke (Mt 11:28-30+). J Ligon Duncan - Isn’t it interesting friends, the god of Egypt says, "Work, no rest, no Shiva." The true God says, "Rest." Now that’s a battle we still fight today. The god of this world says, "Work, work, work, no rest." The God of heaven and earth, the one true God says, "On My day rest." My friends, that’s not oppression, that’s liberation. Can you imagine the children of Israel after being under this regime being told by God in the fourth Commandment. "And by the way for you there will there will be seven and a half weeks of mandatory vacation every year." Do you think there would have been any grumbling there? No, because God gives His people rest. MacKay - Extant Egyptian records show that absenteeism was a major problem among those conscripted into the state workforce, and not infrequently the excuse that was recorded was that a workman was offering to his god. Pharaoh’s next statement therefore fits in with the contemporary situation in Egypt. They had time on their hands to think about other things and to suppose that there might be the opportunity for time off for a pilgrimage. The answer was to increase the work that they had to do. (MC) Because they are lazy, therefore they cry out, 'Let us go and sacrifice to our God.' - Pharaoh reasoned that they had been slacking up on their work and now as a result they had extra time to think about going to worship. Lazy (07503)(raphah) means to sink, to become slack, to relax, to cease (Jdg. 8:3; 2 Sa 24:16; Neh. 6:9; Ps. 37:8), to desist or leave alone (Ex. 4:26; Dt. 9:14; Jdg. 11:37; Job 7:19), to become discouraged, to become disheartened, to become weak, to become feeble, to let drop or let go (Job 27:6; = figuratively; Pr. 4:13 = figuratively; Song 3:4 = literally), to discourage, to leave alone, to let go, to forsake or abandon someone (Deut. 4:31; 31:6, 8; Josh. 1:5; 10:6; Ps. 138:8), to be lazy (Ex. 5:8, 17; Josh. 18:3; Prov. 18:9). Exodus 5:9 "Let the labor be heavier on the men, and let them work at it so that they will pay no attention to false words." they will pay no attention to false words - 2Ki 18:20 Job 16:3 Jer 43:2 Zec 1:6 Mal 3:14 Eph 5:6 Exodus 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries PHARAOH'S PERVERSION OF GOD'S WORDS To pervert means to corrupt or interpret wrongly, which is exactly what Pharaoh did to the inerrant, inspired Word of truth from God! Like father like son, and Pharaoh was a pawn of Satan the ultimate perverter of God's Word when he said "hath God really said?" (Ge 3:1+). Satan's children continue in their incessant attempts to pervert the truth of God's Word, even to the point of calling it false! That is the height of deception! And when a person is deceived, they do not even know they are deceived! Pharaoh and his ilk remind me of men Peter's admonition "that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” (2 Pe 3:3-4+) Let the labor be heavier on the men - Literally "let the work be heavy." "Pour it on" is the idea! Pharaoh's logic was reasonable - poor more work on the Hebrew slaves and blame it on Moses' demands and this would drive a wedge between the leader of the "rebellion" (so to speak) (Moses) and the sons of Israel. As we see in subsequent passages Pharaoh's scheme worked! Rayburn - The draconian requirements that were imposed on the Israelites were intended to separate them from the propaganda they were hearing from Moses. And, as we will see, the punishment had its intended effect. And let them work at it so that they will pay no attention to false words - Pharaoh is deceived. He is the one with "false" words and worships false gods. Pharaoh says that God's words spoken through Moses and Aaron "lying words" (דִבְרֵי־שָׁקֶר, divre-shaqer) and constitute the main reason for Pharaoh’s new policy of oppression, reasoning that the oppressive conditions would discredit Moses. Notice the utter irony as here Pharaoh (representative of this fallen, Satanically controlled world) was saying that God’s words were vain, empty and deceptive even though they actually were calling people to a higher order. Soon God would reveal that His words were true words and He would in fact have the last word, so to speak! Robert Rayburn - The great stone monuments of ancient Egypt exist to this day in almost undiminished splendor. They were, however, largely confined, with the exception of statues of kings and gods, to temples and tombs. More ordinary dwellings, even palaces, were built of sun-dried bricks. Unlike in Mesopotamia, these bricks were not kiln-dried until a much later period. Straw was not, in fact, necessary; better bricks could be made without it in a kiln, but either nobody in Egypt realized this at the time or the abundance of free labor made a better technology unnecessary. J Ligon Duncan - Pharaoh dares to call God’s words false. "Don’t listen to these false words. Make them worker harder so that they won’t listen to these false words." Just as Satan did in the Garden (Ge 3:1+). As we’ve said before, the Exodus is a battle between the Lord and Satan. Vanderwaal says this: Pharaoh is an Old Testament Herod; he represents the seed of the serpent (Ge 3:15+), which seeks to kill the seed of the woman." But as we see Pharaoh attempting to demoralize Israel and discredit Moses, we learn one more thing for ourselves. We must not fail to factor the work of Satan himself in the difficulties and trials of our own lives and ministries. Oh, I know that there are people out there that find Satan literally under every rock. And I know that there are people out there that blame Satan for things that they have done themselves. But we would be foolish not to factor in the reality of the evil one and his stratagems working against the people of God (cf his schemes - Eph 6:11+), working against the plan of God, working against the deliverer of God. And what we see here in Pharaoh’s actions is nothing but the designs of the old serpent against the seed of woman. Now in your own lives, I don’t know how that works out in every particular circumstance. But it does mean this: In your own difficulties and trials, you must never, ever forget that there is one who prowls about like a roaring lion who seeks to devour you (1 Pe 5:8+). But the one who is in you is greater than he who is in the world (1 Jn 4:4+). And that in and of itself, doesn’t it, presses us right back to the great challenge of Israel; to trust in God, trust in His word, walk in His ways. False (08267)(sheqer) deception, disappointment, falsehood, lie, vanity. Speaks of words or activities which are false in the sense that they are groundless, without basis in fact or reality (Ps 38:19). The false witness of Exodus 20:16 (Dt. 19:18) involves a false accusation, an accusation that is groundless, not based on fact. The first use is by Satan's tool the Pharaoh in Ex 5:9 where the Septuagint translates sheqer with the word kenos which means empty, without truth, futile, without result. Sheqer defines a way of life that goes contrary to the law of God. The psalmist, desirous of following God, prayed: "Remove the false way from me" (Ps 119:29; cf false way in Ps. 119:104, Ps 119:128). Vine says "As "faithfulness" is a relational term, "falsehood" denotes "one's inability to keep faith" with what one has said or to respond positively to the faithfulness of another being. Jeremiah 23:32 speaks of those who "prophesy lying dreams," that are founded on nothing more substantial than the dreamer's imagination. He speaks similarly of those who prophesy falsehood in Jeremiah 27:10 (cf. also Zech. 10:2; Zech. 13:3). No matter how persuasively or "logically" the prophet might speak, his words are groundless and false unless they are based on God's self-revelation. Isaiah 59:13 forms part of repentant Israel's confession. Included in this is the statement that they had conceived and uttered from their hearts lying (sheqer) words. Micah 2:11 portrays this attitude of Israel by saying that if a man whose way of life is "wind and falsehood (sheqer)" were to come to them with lies, that is the one they would choose as their prophet. (TWOT) Idols are called sheqer in a number of passages (e.g. Isa 44:20; Jer 51:17). Jer 10:14-15 says of them that they are sheqer because "there is no breath in them. They are worthless, a work of mockery" (NASB). Habakkuk 2:18 speaks similarly of idols, asking what value they have, being 'teachers of falsehood," that is, making empty promises and raising vain hopes. Idols were also described as deceptions, for people worshiped them even though the idols had no life in them (Jer. 10:14f). They were described as teachers of falsehood because of the empty promises associated with them. A person who makes an idol carries a lie in his hand and is too deluded to realize that there are no grounds for worship; it is a piece of stone or wood (Isa. 44:20; Jer. 51:17; Hab 2:18). Other examples - false witness (Dt. 19:18, 20:16); false prophets (Jer. 5:31; Jer 20:6;Jer 29:9); of telling lies (Lev. 19:12; Jer. 37:14); a liar (Pr 17:4). Can describe something done in vain (1 Sa. 25:21; Ps 33:17); or an action without cause (Ps. 38:19[20]; 119:78, 86). About 35v describe the nature of deceptive speech -- spoken falsehood = Isa 59:3, teaches falsehood = Isa 9:15, to prophesy false vision = Jer. 14:14). It may also indicate a "deceptive character," as expressed in one's acts: "to deal treacherously" (2 Sa 18:13); "to deal falsely" (Hos. 7:1). Sheqer - 109v - deceit(2), deceitful(3), deceiving(4), deception(3), deceptive(3), false(17), false hope(1), falsehood(19), falsehoods(1), falsely(19), liar(1), lie(14), lies(5), lying(12), lying visions(1), perjury*(1), slander*(1), treacherously(1), useless(1), vain(1), wrongfully(3). Exod. 5:9; Exod. 20:16; Exod. 23:7; Lev. 6:3; Lev. 6:5; Lev. 19:12; Deut. 19:18; 1 Sam. 25:21; 2 Sam. 18:13; 1 Ki. 22:22; 1 Ki. 22:23; 2 Ki. 9:12; 2 Chr. 18:21; 2 Chr. 18:22; Job 13:4; Job 36:4; Ps. 7:14; Ps. 27:12; Ps. 31:18; Ps. 33:17; Ps. 35:19; Ps. 38:19; Ps. 52:3; Ps. 63:11; Ps. 69:4; Ps. 101:7; Ps. 109:2; Ps. 119:29; Ps. 119:69; Ps. 119:78; Ps. 119:86; Ps. 119:104; Ps. 119:118; Ps. 119:128; Ps. 119:163; Ps. 120:2; Ps. 144:8; Ps. 144:11; Prov. 6:17; Prov. 6:19; Prov. 10:18; Prov. 11:18; Prov. 12:17; Prov. 12:19; Prov. 12:22; Prov. 13:5; Prov. 14:5; Prov. 17:4; Prov. 17:7; Prov. 19:5; Prov. 19:9; Prov. 20:17; Prov. 21:6; Prov. 25:14; Prov. 25:18; Prov. 26:28; Prov. 29:12; Prov. 31:30; Isa. 9:15; Isa. 28:15; Isa. 32:7; Isa. 44:20; Isa. 57:4; Isa. 59:3; Isa. 59:13; Jer. 3:10; Jer. 3:23; Jer. 5:2; Jer. 5:31; Jer. 6:13; Jer. 7:4; Jer. 7:8; Jer. 7:9; Jer. 8:8; Jer. 8:10; Jer. 9:3; Jer. 9:5; Jer. 10:14; Jer. 13:25; Jer. 14:14; Jer. 16:19; Jer. 20:6; Jer. 23:14; Jer. 23:25; Jer. 23:26; Jer. 23:32; Jer. 27:10; Jer. 27:14; Jer. 27:15; Jer. 27:16; Jer. 28:15; Jer. 29:9; Jer. 29:21; Jer. 29:23; Jer. 29:31; Jer. 37:14; Jer. 40:16; Jer. 43:2; Jer. 51:17; Ezek. 13:22; Hos. 7:1; Mic. 2:11; Mic. 6:12; Hab. 2:18; Zech. 5:4; Zech. 8:17; Zech. 10:2; Zech. 13:3; Mal. 3:5 Exodus 5:10 So the taskmasters of the people and their foremen went out and spoke to the people, saying, "Thus says Pharaoh, 'I am not going to give you any straw. taskmasters - Ex 1:11 Pr 29:12 Exodus 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries So the taskmasters of the people and their foremen went out and spoke to the people, saying, "Thus says Pharaoh, 'I am not going to give you any straw - The people is the Hebrews. And thus the "net impact" of Moses' words to Pharaoh is to make things worse for the Hebrews not better! And as we will soon see, this accentuated adversity would test both the people and Moses. Exodus 5:11 'You go and get straw for yourselves wherever you can find it, but none of your labor will be reduced.'" but none of your labor will be reduced - Ex 5:13,14 Exodus 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries SEARCH FOR STRAW BUT SAME QUOTA You go and get straw for yourselves wherever you can find it - You Hebrew slaves are to search for your own straw. But none of your labor will be reduced - The number of bricks produced was not to decrease. As old John Trapp said Things commonly go backward with the saints before they come forward, so the corn growth downward ere it grow upward.” Exodus 5:12 So the people scattered through all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw. stubble - Ex 15:7 Isa 5:24 47:14 Joe 2:5 Na 1:10 Ob 1:18 1Co 3:12 Exodus 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries SLAVES SEARCHING FOR STUBBLE So the people scattered through all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw - Stubble or chaff would be found where fields had been harvested and the worthless chaff remained. Rayburn - This is the typical Hebrew extravagance. All over that part of Egypt where they lived is all that is meant. The straw that had been provided before them up to now was cut from the fields, was of even length and easy to use. Now they used whatever they could find lying on the ground. Stubble (07179)(qash) refers to chaff, the short dry stumps of grain, corn, wheat, etc., left in a field after harvesting. Chaff burned quickly (Mal. 4:1), was of little value, was not highly prized and was a poor substitute for straw in brick making (Ex. 5:12). Chaff was regarded as worthless (Job 13:25; Isa. 33:11) and lacking the ability to resist opposition (Job 41:28f; Isa. 41:2). Figuratively, the Lord consumed the army of Egypt as easily as chaff (Ex. 15:7). Dhaff is easily driven away by the wind, and figuratively depicts man's inability to resist God's judgment (Ps. 83:13; Isa. 40:24; Jer. 13:24). Since chaff is easily consumed by fire, it figuratively described man's being consumed by the fire of God's wrath (Isa. 5:24; 47:14; Joel 2:5; Obad. 18; Nah. 1:10; Mal. 4:1). Qash - chaff(5), straw(1), stubble(10). Exod. 5:12; Exod. 15:7; Job 13:25; Job 41:28; Job 41:29; Ps. 83:13; Isa. 5:24; Isa. 33:11; Isa. 40:24; Isa. 41:2; Isa. 47:14; Jer. 13:24; Joel 2:5; Obad. 1:18; Nah. 1:10; Mal. 4:1 Exodus 5:13 The taskmasters pressed them, saying, "Complete your work quota, your daily amount, just as when you had straw." Exodus 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries LET'S BREAK THEIR SPIRIT BUT GET THE BRICKS The taskmasters pressed them - The idea of the Hebrew word translated pressed means to hasten, urge or insist and expresses a sense of urgency. Occasionally the word may point to "pressing" or "urging" people to do something they do not want to do. In Egypt, the slave drivers are described as "ones hurrying," or "ones pressing," the Hebrew slaves to complete their quota of work for the day. Saying, "Complete your work quota, your daily amount, just as when you had straw." - Less straw but same number of bricks. Exodus 5:14 Moreover, the foremen of the sons of Israel, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, "Why have you not completed your required amount either yesterday or today in making brick as previously?" Exodus 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Moreover, the foremen of the sons of Israel, whom Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, "Why have you not completed your required amount either yesterday or today in making brick as previously?" - As Thompson points out "Now we will be the first to admit, we do not, at this point, really see the hand of God in any of this. If you are living this nightmare, it is difficult to actually see God at work. But He is at work. This is all setting the stage for the most remarkable deliverance of Israel in its history." (Sermon) Mattoon - The manner of beating may be similar to what is done today in the Middle East. The culprit lies on his belly, his legs being turned up behind erect, and the executioner gives him so many blows on the soles of the feet with a stick. This is a very severe punishment. The sufferer is unable to walk for many weeks after, and some are lamed by it for the rest of their lives. Exodus 5:15 Then the foremen of the sons of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, "Why do you deal this way with your servants? Exodus 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries ISRAELITES CRYING OUT TO PHARAOH NOT GOD! Then the foremen of the sons of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, "Why do you deal this way with your servants? - The Hebrew foremen (Lxx - grammateus - scribes in NT) come to Pharaoh. Notice the shift in the sons of Israel compared to their cry in Ex 2:23+ - "they cried out; and their cry for help because of their bondage rose up to God." Now they cry out to the Pharaoh (who claims to be a god). Cried out means to cry out (loud complaining) with an appeal for action, and usually in time of difficulty. (Also used in Ex 14:10 in fear of Pharaoh) They are crying out to the wrong person! Have you ever done this? As Thompson says "They wanted to know why he was doing this. They wanted to know why he was demanding they get their own straw, maintain the same number of bricks and why they were being beaten. The real answer to their “why” question is that he is a man with a hardened heart against God and His word....The one Person they should be crying out to is God. When God’s people cry out to God and seek Him, God hears and will help. But when God’s people cry out to worldly men or worldly leaders, they are crying out to the wrong person." (Sermon) Rayburn - These Israelite foremen found themselves caught in the middle. They had been given an assignment that they could not possibly fulfill – the people could not make as many bricks as before if they had also to provide the straw – and so were being beaten for a failure they had no power to prevent. So they took their case to Pharaoh himself. J Ligon Duncan - The Lord wanted them to cry out to Him, not to Pharaoh. Originally, they cried out to the Lord. In their hardship they cried out to Pharaoh (Ex 2:23). After learning their lesson at the Red Sea, they cried out to the Lord in hardship (Ex 14:10). The Lord answered, Pharaoh didn’t. What’s Moses telling you? God wants your devotion, your loyalty, your trust in the time of hardship. THOUGHT - The sons of Israel had lost their focus. Does this not happen to us when we are experiencing adversity and cry out to God and then experience another or a series of adversities causing us to take our sight off God and look for solutions from men? Bad things will happen. We will all encounter unexpected bumps in the journey of life. That is a given because we live in a fallen world and not yet in Heaven. So the question is when the "pharaoh's" of this world come at us, whether specific harsh people or adverse circumstances, to whom do we cry out? To other men or to the Rock of our salvation (Ps 89:26)? Exodus 5:16 "There is no straw given to your servants, yet they keep saying to us, 'Make bricks!' And behold, your servants are being beaten; but it is the fault of your own people." BGT Exodus 5:16 ἄχυρον οὐ δίδοται τοῖς οἰκέταις σου καὶ τὴν πλίνθον ἡμῖν λέγουσιν ποιεῖν καὶ ἰδοὺ οἱ παῖδές σου μεμαστίγωνται ἀδικήσεις οὖν τὸν λαόν σου NET Exodus 5:16 No straw is given to your servants, but we are told, 'Make bricks!' Your servants are even being beaten, but the fault is with your people." LXE Exodus 5:16 Straw is not given to thy servants, and they tell us to make brick; and behold thy servants have been scourged: thou wilt therefore injure thy people. NLT Exodus 5:16 "We are given no straw, but the slave drivers still demand, 'Make bricks!' We are being beaten, but it isn't our fault! Your own people are to blame!" KJV Exodus 5:16 There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and, behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault is in thine own people. ESV Exodus 5:16 No straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, 'Make bricks!' And behold, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people." NIV Exodus 5:16 Your servants are given no straw, yet we are told, 'Make bricks!' Your servants are being beaten, but the fault is with your own people." ASV Exodus 5:16 There is no straw given unto thy servants, and they say to us, Make brick: and, behold, thy servants are beaten; but the fault it in thine own people. CSB Exodus 5:16 No straw has been given to your servants, yet they say to us, 'Make bricks! ' Look, your servants are being beaten, but it is your own people who are at fault." NKJ Exodus 5:16 "There is no straw given to your servants, and they say to us,`Make brick!' And indeed your servants are beaten, but the fault is in your own people." NRS Exodus 5:16 No straw is given to your servants, yet they say to us, 'Make bricks!' Look how your servants are beaten! You are unjust to your own people." YLT Exodus 5:16 Straw is not given to thy servants, and they are saying to us, Make bricks, and lo, thy servants are smitten -- and thy people hath sinned.' NAB Exodus 5:16 No straw is supplied to your servants, and still we are told to make bricks. Look how your servants are beaten! It is you who are at fault." Exodus 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE SYSTEM IS UNFAIR! There is no straw given to your servants, yet they keep saying to us, 'Make bricks!' And behold, your servants are being beaten; but it is the fault of your own people." - The phrase fault of your own people means the Egyptians were not giving them the straw they needed for the bricks ans to the system is unfair! Yes, they are correct but that was exactly Pharaoh's evil plan - to not play fair with the Hebrews! Pharaohs wicked rationale ws to design they brick making business as unfair so that the sons of Israel would reject the leadership of Moses and Aaron. Mark it down beloved, our enemy Satan does not play fair, so don't be duped into thinking that he does and will treat you fairly. He won't! "It is the sort of rational argument that many oppressed people have made in the expectation that self-interest would lead the tyrant to give more reasonable instructions. But they were as misguided in this hope as were the Jews almost 3500 years later who plead with the concentration camp directors that starving and freezing the workers was bound to diminish their productivity. (Robert Rayburn) While we know the Hebrews did not enjoy their slavery (cf Ex 2:23), they enjoyed it more than the even harder conditions. "Yet what God allows and even performs in the work of bringing freedom made it feel worse, at least for a time." (Guzik) Note the repetition of the phrase your servants (those who belong to Pharaoh) (Ex 5:15-16) In using this phrase it suggest they are trying to assure Pharaoh that they were loyal to him. "This is significant, though it was certainly civic protocol to refer to yourself in a subservient sort of way to the great king of Egypt. It adds to the sense that Israel is conflicted in the matter of whom to serve. No man can serve two masters, as Jesus said. The foremen are emphasizing their devotion, their loyalty to Pharaoh." (J Ligon Duncan) NET - The word rendered “fault” is the basic OT verb for “sin”—וְחָטָאת (vékhata’t). The problem is that it is pointed as a perfect tense, feminine singular verb. Some other form of the verb would be expected, or a noun. But the basic word-group means “to err, sin, miss the mark, way, goal.” The word in this context seems to indicate that the people of Pharaoh—the slave masters—have failed to provide the straw. Hence: “fault” or “they failed.” But, as indicated, the line has difficult grammar, for it would literally translate: “and you [fem.] sin your people.” Many commentators (so GKC 206 §74.g) wish to emend the text to read with the Greek and the Syriac, thus: “you sin against your own people” (meaning the Israelites are his loyal subjects). Exodus 5:17 But he said, "You are lazy, very lazy; therefore you say, 'Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.' Mt 26:8 Joh 6:27 2Th 3:10,11 Exodus 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries LAZY SLAVES But he said, "You are lazy, very lazy - NET has " "You are slackers! Slackers!" ESV has "You are idle, you are idle." Pharaoh completely dismisses the cry of the Hebrew foremen and refuses to address it, instead resorting demeaning them with vicious "character assassination" as idle, lazy, slacker! Duncan - The only reason you want to go out and worship, he says, is because you’re lazy. You don’t want to do any work. False gods, my friends, are unforgiving taskmasters. They may have a certain appeal at first, but they will always exact a heavy toll. The children of Israel are learning that lesson right now. Lazy...lazy (07503)(raphah) means to sink, to become slack, to relax, to cease (Jdg. 8:3; 2 Sa 24:16; Neh. 6:9; Ps. 37:8), to desist or leave alone (Ex. 4:26; Dt. 9:14; Jdg. 11:37; Job 7:19), to become discouraged, to become disheartened, to become weak, to become feeble, to let drop or let go (Job 27:6; = figuratively; Pr. 4:13 = figuratively; Song 3:4 = literally), to discourage, to leave alone, to let go, to forsake or abandon someone (Deut. 4:31; 31:6, 8; Josh. 1:5; 10:6; Ps. 138:8), to be lazy (Ex. 5:8, 17; Josh. 18:3; Prov. 18:9). Therefore you say, 'Let us go and sacrifice to the LORD.' - Pharaoh's conclusion is it is their laziness which is motivating them to want to go and sacrifice to the LORD. Notice that here Pharaoh actually uses the Name Jehovah. Exodus 5:18 "So go now and work; for you will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the quota of bricks." deliver - Eze 18:18 Da 2:9-13 Exodus 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries PHARAOH PERSISTENTLY IMPLACABLE Implacable means impossible to appease. David Thompson - Now keep in mind “God is hardening Pharaoh’s heart here.” So when God is setting up a leader for His judgment by hardening his heart, one of the things He does is make that leader totally insensitive to real rational thinking. Things will appear to get worse for God’s people before they get better.” (Sermon) So go now and work - The idea is "go back to work" serving "me" (pharaoh). The Hebrew word abad (Lxx = ergazomai) is used He is saying serve me not your so-called LORD! Compare Ex 4:22 we read God's words that are to be spoken to Pharaoh "‘Let My son go that he may serve Me." What's going on in the heavenlies? There is a "lordship" battle and the question is who is lord, Pharaoh or God? The one you serves is your "lord." In Mt 6:24 Jesus made it very clear that "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." (Mt 6:24+) Work (serve, worship) (05647)(abad) means to work, to serve (be enslaved - Ex 6:6), worship. Abad is translated labor (Israel in Egyptian bondage - Ex 1:13,14, Ex 5:18, but abad translated worship after redemption (see below). In the NT the idea of latreuo is to render service to God, to worship, to perform sacred services or to minister to God in a spirit of worship. Uses of abad in Exodus - Note that after Exodus 7:16 every use in a message to Pharaoh is translated serve and the Septuagint verb is latreuo. Ex 1:13; Ex 1:14; Ex 3:12; Ex 4:23; Ex 5:18; Ex 6:5; REFERRING TO AFTER REDEMPTION -- Ex 7:16; Ex 8:1; Ex 8:20; Ex 9:1; Ex 9:13; Ex 10:3; Ex 10:7; Ex 10:8; Ex 10:11; Ex 10:24; Ex 10:26; Ex 12:31; Ex 13:5; Ex 14:5; Ex 14:12; Ex 20:5; Ex 20:9; Ex 21:2; Ex 21:6; Ex 23:24; Ex 23:25; Ex 23:33; Ex 34:21 Ligon Duncan explains that "God is calling on His people to serve Him. The Lord God demands the complete and allegiance of His people, and He calls upon them to look to them for help. And this, by the way, is the repeated story in the history of Israel, as Israel looks to other nations for help against their enemies instead of looking to the Lord God. As that esteemed theologian, Bob Dylan, once said, "You may serve the devil, or you may serve the Lord, but you all got to serve somebody." Exodus is about calling the people of God to serve Him, for we all have to serve somebody. The Israelite foremen here are showing their true colors as they cry out to Pharaoh for help. It’s the Egyptian monarch who is the recipient of their plea, not the Lord, the God of Israel. They are not properly recognizing the authority and the power and the sovereignty of the Lord. Is that something that you struggle with? Do you run to Christ last of all? Is He your last resort when you’re in a fix. You finally say, "Well, nothing else has worked, I guess I’ll go to Him." This is still a struggle for the people of God, as it was in this day. Pharaoh got meaner Provisions got leaner For you will be given no straw, yet you must deliver the quota of bricks - Pharaoh's cure for what he thought was laziness is more work and harder work. That would cure these lazy Hebrews! And besides if they were working more, they would be more exhausted which would in turn alleviate their agitation and unrest. "Tyrants rarely admit to mistakes, however foolish, however likely to create trouble even for themselves." (Rayburn) Durham quips "This Pharaoh, so unreasonable with men and so stingy with straw, is about to be shown up before Yahweh as no more than a man of straw.” NET - Jacob is amazed at the wealth of this tyrant’s vocabulary in describing the work of others. Here, תֹכֶן (tokhen) is another word for “quota” of bricks, the fifth word used to describe their duty (Exodus, 137). Exodus 5:19 The foremen of the sons of Israel saw that they were in trouble because they were told, "You must not reduce your daily amount of bricks." they were in trouble - De 32:36 Ec 4:1 5:8 Exodus 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries TROUBLE FOR THE HEBREW FOREMEN The foremen of the sons of Israel saw that they were in trouble because they were told, "You must not reduce your daily amount of bricks - The Hebrew foremen (Lxx - grammateus - scribes in NT) were in the greatest trouble because they were the one’s likely to be punished for the inevitable failure of the Israelites to meet their quota of bricks. Exodus 5:20 When they left Pharaoh's presence, they met Moses and Aaron as they were waiting for them. Exodus 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries FOREMEN EXIT PHARAOH'S PALACE When they left Pharaoh's presence, they met Moses and Aaron as they were waiting for them - Moses and Aaron must have been outside the palace, aware ot the Hebrew foremen's attempt to get Pharaoh to lessen the load. Pharaoh's plan of divide and conquer is working at this point. He is pressuring the people to divide them and make matters difficult for Moses. NET - Moses and Aaron would not have made the appeal to Pharaoh that these Hebrew foremen did, but they were concerned to see what might happen, and so they waited to meet the foremen when they came out. Exodus 5:21 They said to them, "May the LORD look upon you and judge you, for you have made us odious in Pharaoh's sight and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us." May the LORD look upon you - Ex 4:31 6:9 Ge 16:5 you have made us odious - Ec 10:1 Joe 2:20 2Co 2:15,16 Heb. to stink, Ge 34:30 1Sa 13:4 27:12 2Sa 10:6 1Ch 19:6 Exodus 5 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries HEBREW FOREMEN BLAME MOSES AND AARON They said to them, "May the LORD look upon you and judge you, for you have made us odious in Pharaoh's sight (Literally - in the eyes of) and in the sight of his servants - "Moses, you have made us stink!" "The foremen vented their anger on Moses and Aaron...."May Yahweh look on you and may he judge" could mean only that God should decide if Moses and Aaron are at fault, but given the rest of the comments it is clear the foremen want more... "so that he may judge [you]." (NET)