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Afterward Moses and Aaron came, and said to Pharaoh, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says, ‘Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.’”
Verse 1. Went in alone. Aaron was substituted instead of the ancients, chap. 3:16.—Pharao Amasis, Cenchres, or Amenophis. Usher.—Sacrifice, which is the principal part of a religious festival. Menochius.
Pharaoh said, “Who is the LORD, that I should listen to his voice to let Israel go? I don’t know the LORD, and moreover I will not let Israel go.”
Verse 2. The Lord. Is there anyone above me?
They said, “The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Please let us go three days’ journey into the wilderness, and sacrifice to the LORD, our God, lest he fall on us with pestilence, or with the sword.”
Verse 3. Upon us. They include themselves in the common danger, in case of disobedience; and they admonish the king respectfully, that there is no resisting the God of the Hebrews with impunity.
The king of Egypt said to them, “Why do you, Moses and Aaron, take the people from their work? Get back to your burdens!”
Verse 4. Get you. He knew not that Moses had been so long absent; and if he had known, he would not probably have treated him more mildly. Bible.
Pharaoh said, “Behold, the people of the land are now many, and you make them rest from their burdens.”
Verse 5. Increased, the edict against children being abrogated. Menochius.—He insists upon their labour being so intense and toilsome, as to thin their ranks.
The same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters of the people and their officers, saying,
Verse 6. Overseers, natives of Egypt, who had under them some Hebrews for task-masters, as the people were more willing to obey them, verse 14.
“You shall no longer give the people straw to make brick, as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves.
Verse 7. Straw, beaten small and mixed with clay, to make brick and mortar. See Ezekiel 13:11. 15. Chardin, Perse ii. p. 76.
You shall require from them the number of the bricks which they made before. You shall not diminish anything of it, for they are idle. Therefore they cry, saying, ‘Let’s go and sacrifice to our God.’
Verse 8. Idle. Thus the impious speak of those who consecrate any part of their time to the service of God: and thus Protestants often condemn the holy-days prescribed by the Catholic Church!
Let heavier work be laid on the men, that they may labor in it. Don’t let them pay any attention to lying words.”
Verse 9. Lying words, alluding to the proposals of Moses. Bible.—Let them not spend their time in idle conversation. Calmet.
The taskmasters of the people went out with their officers, and they spoke to the people, saying, “This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I will not give you straw.
Go yourselves, get straw where you can find it, for nothing of your work shall be diminished.’”
So the people were scattered abroad throughout all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw.
Verse 12. Straw. While some continued at the works, ( Menochius.) others went about the fields to gather up every grain of chaff and piece of straw which they could find.
The taskmasters were urgent saying, “Fulfill your work quota daily, as when there was straw!”
The officers of the children of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten, and were asked, “Why haven’t you fulfilled your quota both yesterday and today, in making brick as before?”
Verse 14. And they, the officers of the children of Israel, established over their brethren, as the Hebrew more clearly insinuates, were scourged, or bastinadoed on the soles of the feet, as smaller faults are commonly punished in the East; ( Calmet.) or they were beaten also with rods, verse 16. Bible.
Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, saying, “Why do you deal this way with your servants?
No straw is given to your servants, and they tell us, ‘Make brick!’ and behold, your servants are beaten; but the fault is in your own people.”
Verse 16. Withal. Hebrew “the fault is in thy own people,” who require impossibilities. Calmet.—They throw the blame upon the king’s officers, ( Menochius.) though it was his own. Bible.
But Pharaoh said, “You are idle! You are idle! Therefore you say, ‘Let’s go and sacrifice to the LORD.’
Go therefore now, and work; for no straw shall be given to you; yet you shall deliver the same number of bricks!”
The officers of the children of Israel saw that they were in trouble when it was said, “You shall not diminish anything from your daily quota of bricks!”
They met Moses and Aaron, who stood along the way, as they came out from Pharaoh.
They said to them, “May the LORD look at you and judge, because you have made us a stench to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us!”
Verse 21. Kill us. You are the occasion of our more cruel treatment. You have made the king have a bad opinion of us. Hebrew “you have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharao.” So Jacob said, (Genesis 34:30,) you have made me stink or become odious. Those who attempt to do a kindness, unsuccessfully, often experience a similar ingratitude. Calmet. 14:11. Menochius. It does not appear from the original, whether the officers or Moses was coming from the king’s presence. They met in some appointed place. Calmet.
Moses returned to the LORD, and said, “Lord, why have you brought trouble on this people? Why is it that you have sent me?
Verse 22. Wherefore. These are not words of anger, but of earnest prayer. Saint Augustine q. 14. Moses does not attempt to satisfy the exasperated officers, but commits the whole to God. Menochius.—In great undertakings, there are commonly many difficulties; which ought not to discourage us. Tirinus.
For since I came to Pharaoh to speak in your name, he has brought trouble on this people. You have not rescued your people at all!”