7 "You are no longer to give the people straw to make brick as previously ; let them go and gather straw for themselves . 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 e they cry out, 'Let us go and sacrifice to our God .' 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 ."
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 . 11 'You go and get straw for yourselves wherever e you can find it, but none of your labor will be reduced .' " 12 So the people scattered through all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw . 13 The taskmasters pressed them, saying , "Complete your work quota , your daily amount e , just as when you had straw ." 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 ?"
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 ? 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 ." 17 But he said , "You are lazy , very lazy ; therefore e you say , 'Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord .' 18 "So go now and work ; for you will be given no straw , yet you must deliver the quota of bricks ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 5:7-18
Commentary on Exodus 5:1-9
(Read Exodus 5:1-9)
God will own his people, though poor and despised, and will find a time to plead their cause. Pharaoh treated all he had heard with contempt. He had no knowledge of Jehovah, no fear of him, no love to him, and therefore refused to obey him. Thus Pharaoh's pride, ambition, covetousness, and political knowledge, hardened him to his own destruction. What Moses and Aaron ask is very reasonable, only to go three days' journey into the desert, and that on a good errand. We will sacrifice unto the Lord our God. Pharaoh was very unreasonable, in saying that the people were idle, and therefore talked of going to sacrifice. He thus misrepresents them, that he might have a pretence to add to their burdens. To this day we find many who are more disposed to find fault with their neighbours, for spending in the service of God a few hours spared from their wordly business, than to blame others, who give twice the time to sinful pleasures. Pharaoh's command was barbarous. Moses and Aaron themselves must get to the burdens. Persecutors take pleasure in putting contempt and hardship upon ministers. The usual tale of bricks must be made, without the usual allowance of straw to mix with the clay. Thus more work was to be laid upon the men, which, if they performed, they would be broken with labour; and if not, they would be punished.
Commentary on Exodus 5:10-23
(Read 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 represented the service and worship of God, as fit employment only for those who have nothing else to do, and the business only of the idle; whereas, it is the duty of those who are most busy in the world. Those who are diligent in doing sacrifice to the Lord, will, before God, escape the doom of the slothful servant, though with men they do not. The Israelites should have humbled themselves before God, and have taken to themselves the shame of their sin; but instead of that, they quarrel with those who were to be their deliverers. Moses returned to the Lord. He knew that what he had said and done, was by God's direction; and therefore appeals to him. When we find ourselves at any time perplexed in the way of our duty, we ought to go to God, and lay open our case before him by fervent prayer. Disappointments in our work must not drive us from our God, but still we must ponder why they are sent.