1 And afterward Moses and Aaron went in, and told Pharaoh, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.
2 And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go.
3 And they said, The God of the Hebrews hath met with us: let us go, we pray thee, three days' journey into the desert, and sacrifice unto the LORD our God; lest he fall upon us with pestilence, or with the sword.
4 And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, let the people from their works? get you unto your burdens.
5 And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land now are many, and ye make them rest from their burdens.
6 And Pharaoh commanded the same day the taskmasters of the people, and their officers, saying,
7 Ye shall no more give the people straw to make brick, as heretofore: let them go and gather straw for themselves.
8 And the tale of the bricks, which they did make heretofore, ye shall lay upon them; ye shall not diminish ought thereof: for they be idle; therefore they cry, saying, Let us go and sacrifice to our God.
9 Let there more work be laid upon the men, that they may labor therein; and let them not regard vain words.
10 And the taskmasters of the people went out, and their officers, and they spake to the people, saying, Thus saith Pharaoh, I will not give you straw.
11 Go ye, get you straw where ye can find it: yet not ought of your work shall be diminished.
12 So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble instead of straw.
13 And the taskmasters hasted them, saying, Fulfil your works, your daily tasks, as when there was straw.
14 And the officers of the children of Israel, which Pharaoh's taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and demanded, Wherefore have ye not fulfilled your task in making brick both yesterday and to day, as heretofore?
15 Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?
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.
17 But he said, Ye are idle, ye are idle: therefore ye say, Let us go and do sacrifice to the LORD.
18 Go therefore now, and work; for there shall no straw be given you, yet shall ye deliver the tale of bricks.
19 And the officers of the children of Israel did see that they were in evil case, after it was said, Ye shall not minish ought from your bricks of your daily task.
20 And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh:
21 And they said unto them, The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savor to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.
22 And Moses returned unto the LORD, and said, LORD, wherefore hast thou so evil entreated this people? why is it that thou hast sent me?
23 For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in thy name, he hath done evil to this people; neither hast thou delivered thy people at all.
The book of Exodus is the second book of the Old Testament in the KJV Holy Bible. It tells the story of the Israelites and their journey from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land. Chapter 5 of Exodus continues this narrative and focuses on the initial interactions between Moses, the chosen leader of the Israelites, and the Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt.
Before delving into the details of chapter 5, it is important to understand the context in which it takes place. In the previous chapters of Exodus, we learn about the background of Moses and how he was chosen by God to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. Moses, along with his brother Aaron, confronts the Pharaoh and demands that he let the Israelites go. However, the Pharaoh refuses and instead increases the workload of the Israelites, making their lives even more difficult.
In chapter 5, Moses and Aaron approach the Pharaoh for the first time to make their demand. They tell him that God has commanded them to go into the wilderness and hold a feast to worship Him. They also ask for a three-day journey to accomplish this. However, the Pharaoh responds by saying, "Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go" (Exodus 5:2). The Pharaoh's refusal to acknowledge God and his command sets the stage for the conflict between him and Moses that will continue throughout the book of Exodus.
After Moses and Aaron's encounter with the Pharaoh, they go to the Israelites and tell them what happened. However, instead of being encouraged by Moses and Aaron's boldness, the Israelites are angry and frustrated. They feel that Moses and Aaron have only made their situation worse by asking the Pharaoh to let them go. They complain to Moses, saying, "The LORD look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us" (Exodus 5:21). The Israelites' lack of faith and trust in God and their leaders will also be a recurring theme in the book of Exodus.
The Pharaoh's response to Moses and Aaron's demand is to increase the workload of the Israelites. He orders his taskmasters to no longer provide the Israelites with straw to make bricks, but they are still expected to produce the same amount of bricks as before. This causes great distress among the Israelites, who have to gather straw themselves and still meet the same quota. They go to the Pharaoh and plead with him to reconsider, but he refuses and accuses them of being lazy. The Israelites are beaten and forced to continue their labor, making their lives even more miserable.
The main theme that emerges in chapter 5 of Exodus is the importance of obedience and faith in God. Moses and Aaron were obedient to God's command to confront the Pharaoh, even though they knew it would not be an easy task. However, the Pharaoh's response to their demand only serves to test their faith in God's plan. The Israelites, on the other hand, struggle with obedience and faith. They doubt God's power and question Moses and Aaron's leadership, even though they have witnessed God's miracles through them. This theme of obedience and faith will continue to be tested throughout the book of Exodus as the Israelites face numerous challenges on their journey to the Promised Land.
Chapter 5 of Exodus sets the stage for the conflict between Moses and the Pharaoh and the struggles of the Israelites as they seek freedom from slavery. It also highlights the importance of obedience and faith in God's plan, even when faced with challenges and hardships. The chapter serves as a reminder that even though we may face difficulties in following God's will, we must trust in His plan and remain faithful to Him. It also teaches us the consequences of disobedience and the destructive nature of doubt and lack of faith.
Furthermore, chapter 5 also sheds light on the character of the Pharaoh, who represents the forces of evil and oppression. His refusal to acknowledge God's power and his harsh treatment of the Israelites foreshadows the eventual downfall of his reign and the triumph of the Israelites. This serves as a reminder that evil and oppression may have their temporary victories, but ultimately, they will be defeated by God's power and will.
In conclusion, chapter 5 of Exodus is a crucial part of the overall narrative of the book. It sets the foundation for the conflicts and struggles that will follow and highlights the importance of obedience and faith in God's plan. It also reveals the character of the Pharaoh and foreshadows his eventual downfall. The chapter serves as a reminder of the power and faithfulness of God and the ultimate triumph of good over evil.
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