Exodus 5:15 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Then the foremen of the people of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, "Why do you treat your servants like this?

NIV: Then the Israelite overseers went and appealed to Pharaoh: "Why have you treated your servants this way?

NASB: Then the foremen of the sons of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, 'Why do you deal this way with your servants?

CSB: So the Israelite foremen went in and cried for help to Pharaoh: "Why are you treating your servants this way?

NLT: So the Israelite foremen went to Pharaoh and pleaded with him. 'Please don’t treat your servants like this,' they begged.

KJV: Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried unto Pharaoh, saying, Wherefore dealest thou thus with thy servants?

NKJV: Then the officers of the children of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh, saying, “Why are you dealing thus with your servants?

Israel was enslaved by Egypt (Exodus 1:13–14). As part of this, Egypt gave "taskmasters," or "slave drivers," brutal authority over the Hebrews (Exodus 1:11). Among the Israelites, taskmasters assigned some as "foremen" who could supervise groups. These foremen have been whipped because Israel failed to make their quota of bricks (Exodus 5:14). This, as planned, happened because Pharaoh decided to stop providing a major raw component: straw (Exodus 5:6–8).

The slaves approach Pharaoh in protest, though still with humility. They will explain that they are not at fault for the lack of production (Exodus 5:16). They will come to realize that this is retaliation against Moses (Exodus 5:1–5). The Egyptian ruler is sending a message to his slaves not to listen to anyone speaking about freedom (Exodus 5:6–9). This will lead to exactly the response Pharaoh hoped for: the people will become bitter towards Moses and Aaron (Exodus 5:20–21).

Exodus 5:15–23 records the aftermath of Moses and Aaron's first encounter with Egypt's king. Rather than agreeing to let Israel go, the Pharaoh spitefully cut off access to raw materials while demanding that the enslaved people (Exodus 1:13–14) maintain production. This leads to a backlash against Moses and Aaron; the people blame them for making their lives even harder. Moses experiences doubt. He wonders why the situation is worse, not better. The Lord will respond with reassurance (Exodus 6:1).

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.

Accessed 4/16/2025 3:26:32 PM