Exodus 5:10 - Printer Friendly

ESV: So the taskmasters and the foremen of the people went out and said to the people, "Thus says Pharaoh, ‘I will not give you straw.

NIV: Then the slave drivers and the overseers went out and said to the people, "This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I will not give you any more straw.

NASB: So the taskmasters of the people and their foremen went out and spoke to the people, saying, 'This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I am not going to give you any straw.

CSB: So the overseers and foremen of the people went out and said to them, "This is what Pharaoh says: ‘I am not giving you straw.

NLT: So the slave drivers and foremen went out and told the people: 'This is what Pharaoh says: I will not provide any more straw for you.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: And the taskmasters of the people and their officers went out and spoke to the people, saying, “Thus says Pharaoh: ‘I will not give you straw.

"Taskmasters" are the Egyptian slave drivers put in control over the enslaved Israelites. Jewish men assigned to supervise their fellow slaves are referred to as "foremen," or "officers." These men were informed (Exodus 5:6–8) that Egypt would no longer provide straw for the slaves to use in making their required quota of bricks (Exodus 1:13–14). This is Pharaoh's punishment for Moses' request that the Hebrews be allowed to leave for a time of worship (Exodus 5:1–4).

Now these men act as messengers, delivering cruel news to the Israelite people. They will have to find stalks from harvested crops on their own—and these are not plentiful in Egypt. And they are not to reduce production (Exodus 5:11). This forces them into a desperate scramble to find enough straw (Exodus 5:12). Of course, they cannot, which is just what Pharaoh expected. This is his ploy to beat down the Israelite slaves and make them hate Moses and Aaron (Exodus 5:20–21).

Pharaoh's plan initially works. The Jews turned against Moses and Aaron instead of standing with them to request time to leave Egypt. However, God was not done with Moses and Aaron or the people of Israel. Moses questions God about this turn of events (Exodus 5:22–23). God responds with a reminder that He is not done working just yet (Exodus 6:1).

Exodus 5:1–14 describes the first encounter between Moses and Egypt's ruler, Pharaoh (Exodus 4:21–23). When Moses asks that Israel be released for a period of worship (Exodus 3:18), Pharaoh flatly refuses. In fact, he retaliates against the Hebrews by forcing them to make the same quota of bricks (Exodus 1:13–14) without being provided the usual raw materials. This is impossible; the cruel punishments which follow are exactly what Pharaoh intended with his spiteful command.

Moses and Aaron have their first meeting with Egypt's king, the pharaoh. Though they are there to free Israel entirely (Exodus 3:10), they begin with a much less dramatic request: three days to worship their God in the wilderness (Exodus 3:18). Pharaoh refuses. Instead, he spitefully cuts off supply of raw materials—straw—while demanding the same output from the Hebrew slaves. This increases the peoples' burden and gives Pharaoh's taskmasters excuse to abuse them. When the Israelites turn against Moses, he expresses confusion to God.

Moses encountered the Lord (Exodus 3:4–6) during his exile (Exodus 2:15). God commanded Moses to return to Egypt and demand the freedom of the nation of Israel (Exodus 4:21–23). The people had come into Egypt in the days of Joseph (Exodus 1:1–7). Later, they fell into slavery and oppression (Exodus 1:13–14). The first request, in this chapter, is not received well. God will soon bring disasters on Egypt and its stubborn ruler (Exodus 3:10) until His peo-ple are finally released (Exodus 12:41).

The book of Exodus establishes God's covenant relationship with the full-fledged nation of Israel. The descendants of Abraham prosper after settling in Egypt, only to be enslaved by a fearful, hateful Egyptian Pharaoh. God appoints Moses to lead the people out of this bondage. Moses serves as God's spokesman, as the Lord brings plagues and judgments on Egypt, leading to the release of Israel.