Exodus 5:6

_AND PHARAOH COMMANDED THE SAME DAY THE TASKMASTERS OF THE PEOPLE, AND THEIR OFFICERS, SAYING,_ Pharaoh commanded. It was a natural consequence of the high displeasure created by this interview that he should put additional burdens on the oppressed Israelites. TASKMASTERS - Egyptian overseers, appointed to exact labour of the Israelites. OFFICERS, х_ SHOTªRIYM_ (H7860)] - Hebrews placed over their brethren, under the taskmasters, precisely analogous to the Arab officers set over the Arab Fellahs-the poor labourers in modern Egypt-and acting as intermediate agents between the government and the people. It is their duty to see that the men perform the prescribed labour, and collect from them the taxes which the government imposes upon them. These Sheikh-el-Beleds, as they are called, are themselves often seen under the stick of the Kaimmakam, the Kashif, or the Mamoor, in the place o

6._And Pharaoh commanded. _We shall more clearly perceive, as the narrative proceeds, that these taskmasters and officers were taken from amongst the children of Israel, although we have before read that some were Egyptians. But, as tyrants are ingenious in securing their own interests, Pharaoh in his subtlety wished to provide that none should escape, but that all alike should be brought in turn to the labor. For some, in such a multitude, might have evaded the Egyptians; but, when the charge was given to the Israelites, their familiar knowledge would prevent any from escaping. Besides, it is probable that with these taskmasters was deposited the straw, which they distributed either to parties of ten, or to individuals; he therefore doubles the work in this way, by commanding them to gather the straw with which the bricks were made. But, according to the proverb, that “the edicts of kin...

1-9 God will own his people, though poor and despised, and will find a time to plead their cause. Pharaoh treated all he had heard with contempt. He had no knowledge of Jehovah, no fear of him, no love to him, and therefore refused to obey him. Thus Pharaoh's pride, ambition, covetousness, and political knowledge, hardened him to his own destruction. What Moses and Aaron ask is very reasonable, only to go three days' journey into the desert, and that on a good errand. We will sacrifice unto the Lord our God. Pharaoh was very unreasonable, in saying that the people were idle, and therefore talked of going to sacrifice. He thus misrepresents them, that he might have a pretence to add to their burdens. To this day we find many who are more disposed to find fault with their neighbours, for spending in the service of God a few hours spared from their wordly business, than to blame others, wh...

Verse Exodus 5:6. _THE TASK-MASTERS OF THE PEOPLE AND THEIR OFFICERS_] The task-masters were Egyptians, (Exodus 1:11), the _officers_ were Hebrews; Exodus 5:14. But it is probable that the task-masters Exodus 1:11, who are called שרי מסים _sarey missim, princes of the burdens_ or _taxes_, were different from those termed _taskmasters_ here, as the words are different; נגשים _nogesim_ signifies _exactors_ or _oppressors _- persons who exacted from them an unreasonable proportion either of labour or money. _Officers_. - שטרים shoterim; those seem to have been an inferior sort of officers, who att

THEIR OFFICERS - Or scribes. Hebrews able to keep accounts in writing, appointed by the Egyptian superintendents, and responsible to them for the work; see Exodus 5:14. Subordinate officers are frequently represented on Egyptian monuments, giving in written accounts to their immediate superiors....

EXPOSITION EXODUS 5:6-2 Rulers are not always content simply to refuse inconvenient demands. Sometimes they set to work with much ingenuity and worldly wisdom to prevent their repetition. This is especially the case where they entertain a fear of their petitioners. The Spartans removed Helots, who had earned their freedom, by the Crypteia. The massacre of St. Bartholomew was caused by the Huguenot demand for freedom of worship and the difficulty of repressing it. The Pharaoh now is not content to let things take their course, but devises a plan by which he hopes to crush altogether the aspirations of the Hebrew people, and secure himself against the recurrence of any such appeal as that which had been made to him by Moses and Aaron. The Israelites had recently been employed chiefly in brickmaking. They had had to dig the clay and temper it, to mix it with

AND PHARAOH COMMANDED THE SAME DAY THE TASKMASTERS OF THE PEOPLE,.... Who were Egyptians, and whom Pharaoh sent for the same day, to give them orders to oppress them yet more and more, so far was he from complying with their request: [AND] THEIR OFFICERS; who were Israelites, and were under the taskmasters, and accountable to them for each man's work that they had the inspection and care of: SAYING, as follows....

3. MOSES AND AARON IN EGYPT Chapter S 4:29-5:23 Before the Elders and Before Pharaoh _ 1. Before the elders of Israel (Exodus 4:29)_ 2. Before Pharaoh, and his answer (Exodus 5:1) 3. The increased oppression (Exodus 5:5) 4. Israel ‘s complaint and Moses' prayer (Exodus 5:20) The people were willing and believed. Notice they believed after the signs were done. Faith was followed by worship. It is almost a constitutional thing with the Jew to see first and then believe. Compare with John 20:26 . Then the messengers of

EXODUS 5:1 TO EXODUS 6:1 (Exodus 5:1 f. and Exodus 5:4 E, the rest J). PHARAOH'S FIRST REFUSAL to let Israel go, and his increase of their burdens. The bulk of the story is taken from J, but part of the opening shows that E told it too. One spoke of the God of Israel, the other of the God of the Hebrews: both related the demand for leave of absence in order to worship. Observe in J the primitive dread of an approach of the Divine Being unless an acceptable offering be at hand (Exodus 5:3, _cf._ Num

TASKMASTERS. Compare Exodus 1:11, Egyptian. OFFICERS: an Egyptian title, scribes, who kept account of work done....