Exodus 5:20 - Printer Friendly

ESV: They met Moses and Aaron, who were waiting for them, as they came out from Pharaoh;

NIV: When they left Pharaoh, they found Moses and Aaron waiting to meet them,

NASB: When they left Pharaoh’s presence, they met Moses and Aaron as they were waiting for them.

CSB: When they left Pharaoh, they confronted Moses and Aaron, who stood waiting to meet them.

NLT: As they left Pharaoh’s court, they confronted Moses and Aaron, who were waiting outside for them.

KJV: And they met Moses and Aaron, who stood in the way, as they came forth from Pharaoh:

NKJV: Then, as they came out from Pharaoh, they met Moses and Aaron who stood there to meet them.

The men confronting Moses and Aaron are enslaved Jewish men assigned as supervisors over the people (Exodus 1:13–14). Pharaoh has forced the slaves into an impossible level of work (Exodus 5:14–16) because of Moses and Aaron's recent requests (Exodus 5:1–3). In a threatening way, Pharaoh implies that if the people have enough time and energy left over for complaints, they must need more work (Exodus 5:17–18). This is no accident: it's a ploy meant to embarrass and further abuse the people (Exodus 5:6–9, 19).

When the meeting is over, the foremen speak with Moses and Aaron. As Pharaoh likely hoped, the Hebrews blame the two men for provoking this situation. In fact, they will call for God's judgment against what they see as troublemakers (Exodus 5:21). Whether the elders feel the same way (Exodus 4:29–31), it's clear the people are angry. Even Moses will express doubt about how this fits into the Lord's plan (Exodus 5:22–23).

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 6/17/2025 11:09:50 AM