| 5:1 |
Moses is presented as God's spokesperson, his prophet. In Exodus 7:1 Moses is actually described as 'like God to Pharaoh' with Aaron (his brother) as his prophet, speaking on behalf of Moses. Aaron rarely acts as God's representative, Moses usually assumes this role.
The festival was to be celebrated at Mount Horeb (3:18) where Moses had encountered God. This pilgrimage feast is mentioned many times in these chapters so that the idea of Sinai / Horeb is emphasised to the Israelites in Egypt. The repeated explanation is that they were to visit God. The word 'hagh' used denotes a pilgrimage to a shrine followed by a feast there. It is the same word as the Arabic 'hajj' used for pilgrimage to Mecca.
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| 5:2 |
The Pharaoh scorns God. 'Who is the Lord?' is a contemptuous rhetorical question. His attitude to God is soon to be changed (see Ex 8:8, 28; 9:28; 10:16) The Pharaoh is a polytheist himself, so does not deny the existence of Yahweh. But he has never heard of him. The Pharaoh was considered a deity by the Egyptians therefore he could not admit that the word of any other god was superior to his wishes. The eventual humiliation of the Pharaoh demonstrates his false claim to divine status.
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| 5:3 |
'Or he will fall upon us...' disease or violent oppression were traditionally believed to be the fate of those who offended a deity. (Leviticus 26:14f; Deuteronomy 28:15f). As the Israelites lived in Goshen, on the borders, they were exposed to the dangers of invading armies.
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| 5:4 |
The Pharaoh regards Moses and Aaron as agitators who encourage the slaves to be idle, so the Pharaoh replies with longer and harder work!
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| 5:5 |
See Exodus 1:7,12 on the great number of Hebrews in Egypt.
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| 5:6 |
The Israelite foremen were chosen by their fellow slaves as kinds of shop-steward. They were responsible for the quota of bricks produced, absentee and communal penalties fell on them!
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| 5:7 |
Sun-dried bricks have been popular building materials in Egypt from prehistoric times to the present, being cheap and easily available. The grass or straw helped the mud to cohere. Sometimes sand was used to bind the Nile mud together. The bricks were made in a frame or mould and left to dry in the sun. Some think the straw was used to prevent the bricks from sticking to the mould.
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| 5:14 |
The Israelite supervisors were beaten. It seems that the supervisor of each gang was held responsible for its daily production output.
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| 5:16 |
The meaning could be: 'You do wrong to the Egyptians by denying them their full quota of bricks' or more likely, 'You do wrong to the Hebrews' (who here deferentially refer to themselves as Pharaoh's people).
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| 5:17 |
The Pharaoh thinks the Hebrews are making religion an excuse for a holiday.
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| 5:20 |
The Supervisors appeal directly to Pharaoh while Moses and Aaron presumably wait in an outer room to hear the results of the request. Aaron is an addition to the text. Moses alone speaks to and is answered by God.
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| 5:22-23 |
Moses does not answer the charges against him but as elsewhere turns to God in prayer (Exodus 17:4; 32:11-13; Deuteronomy 9:26-29). He does not understand God's ways but he is reassured. Moses holds God responsible for new greater hardship. Moses goes back to Sinai where the revelation in chapter 7 takes place.
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| 6:1 |
It is not clear whether the 'strong hand' meant is that of God or of the Pharaoh. It could mean 'with violence on the part of the Pharaoh'. Cf 12:39 where it says 'they were thrust out of Egypt'.
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