Exodus 5:21 - Printer Friendly

ESV: and they said to them, "The Lord look on you and judge, because you have made us stink in the sight of Pharaoh and his servants, and have put a sword in their hand to kill us."

NIV: and they said, "May the Lord look on you and judge you! You have made us obnoxious to Pharaoh and his officials and have put a sword in their hand to kill us."

NASB: And they said to them, 'May the Lord look upon you and judge you, because you have made us repulsive in Pharaoh’s sight and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us!'

CSB: "May the Lord take note of you and judge," they said to them, "because you have made us reek to Pharaoh and his officials—putting a sword in their hand to kill us!"

NLT: The foremen said to them, 'May the Lord judge and punish you for making us stink before Pharaoh and his officials. You have put a sword into their hands, an excuse to kill us!'

KJV: And they said unto them, The Lord look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.

NKJV: And they said to them, “Let the Lord look on you and judge, because you have made us abhorrent in the sight of Pharaoh and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us.”

The nation of Israel is still trapped in Egypt (Exodus 1:11, 13–14). Their lives are hard and harsh, making bricks for the Egyptians. When Moses and Aaron arrive to demand freedom (Exodus 5:1–3), Egypt's king retaliates (Exodus 5:6–9). Jewish foremen complain about the abuse (Exodus 5:14–16), and it is readily apparent that the Pharaoh's demands are intended as revenge (Exodus 5:17–19). Pharaoh is angry that the people would ask for freedom; this is a graphic warning about what happens when slaves get such ideas.

The foreman's complaint that Moses and Aaron "have made us stink" uses the Hebrew word hibastem', referring to something disgusting or repulsive. If the ruler of all Egypt is that annoyed with slaves, the people are in constant threat of abuse. In bitterness, the Hebrew supervisors wish that God would judge Moses and Aaron. These would-be liberators have made Hebrew lives even worse. This infighting is part of Pharaoh's plan. So long as slaves are attacking fellow captives, they'll have no time left over for complaints or rebellion.

The situation appears impossible. Moses will express doubts about why things have gotten worse, not better (Exodus 5:22–23). Yet the Lord will use this situation to show His great power in the midst of a hopeless context (Exodus 6:1).

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.