Exo 5.1-23 tells us about how Moses meets with Pharaoh and it does not go well; Pharaoh increases the burdens of the Israelites; the elders confront Moses and Aaron; Moses complains to Yehovah about the failure; Pharaoh will now be taken to school to begin to learn about the monotheistic view concerning Yehovah as being the only God.
v 1…And afterward (the signs have given them confidence to go before Pharaoh) Moses and Aaron came and said to Pharaoh, “Thus says the Lord (“thus says Yehovah”), the God (power) of Israel, ‘Let my people go (or literally “Send my people out”; “Pharaoh, Yehovah has a relationship with the people you are holding as slaves”) that they may celebrate a festival (“hag”) to me in the wilderness (because they could not do it in the presence of the Egyptians).’ “
v 2…But Pharaoh said, “Who is the Lord (“who is Yehovah”; he did not recognize that name or had heard of it) that I should obey his voice to let the people go? I do not know the Lord (I do not know Yehovah) and besides I will not let Israel go.”
v 3…Then they said, “The God (power) of the Hebrews (leaving out Yehovah because he had never heard of that name, Moses refers to the Hebrew God which he knew Pharaoh understood as being different than Pharaoh’s gods) has met with us. Please let us go a three days journey (notice it is only for three days, not being set free totally) into the wilderness that we may sacrifice (what it means to keep a festival) to the Lord (Yehovah) our God, lest he fall upon us with pestilence or with swords (Moses appeals to Pharaoh’s polytheistic view the gods that Pharaoh would know).”
4…But the king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you draw the people away from their work? Get back to your labors!”
v 5…Again Pharaoh said, “Look, the people of the land are now many, and you would have them cease from their labors!”
v 6…So the same day Pharaoh commanded the taskmasters (Egyptians) over the people and their foremen (Israelites), saying,
v 7…”You are no longer to give the people straw to make bricks as previously; let them go and gather straw for themselves.
v 8…But the quota of bricks which they were making previously, you shall impose on them; you are not to reduce any of it. Because they are lazy, therefore they cry out, “Let us go and sacrifice to our God.
v 9…Let the labor be heavy on them, and let them work at it that they may pay no attention to false words (the hard work will make Moses look like a false prophet).
v 10…So the taskmasters of the people and their foremen went out and spoke to the people, saying, “Thus says Pharaoh, ‘I am not going to give you straw.
v 11…You go and get straw for yourselves wherever you can find it; but none of your labor will be reduced.’ “
v 12…So the people scattered through all the land of Egypt (where they dwelt) to gather stubble (field rubbish like roots, twigs, stems or withered plants, etc) for straw.
v 13…And the taskmasters pressed them, saying, “Complete your work quota, your daily amount just as when you had straw.”
v 14…Moreover, the foremen of the sons of Israel (Israelites) whom Pharaoh’s taskmasters had set over them, were beaten and were asked, “Why have you not completed your required amount either yesterday or today (recently) in making bricks as previously?”
v 15…Then the foremen of the sons of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, saying, “Why do you deal this way with your servants?
v 16…There is no straw given to your servants, yet they keep saying to us, ‘Make bricks!’ And behold, your servants are being beaten; but it is the fault of your own people.”
v 17…But he said, “You are lazy, very lazy; therefore you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord (to Yehovah).’
v 18…So go now and work; for you shall be given no straw, yet you must deliver the quota of bricks.”
v 19…And the foremen of the sons of Israel saw that they were in trouble because they were told, “You must not reduce your daily amount of bricks.”
v 20…When they left Pharaoh’s presence, they met with Moses and Aaron as they were waiting for them.
v 21…And they said to them, “May the Lord look upon you and judge you (punish you), for you have made us odious in Pharaoh’s sight and in the sight of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to kill us (verse 9 is working).”
v 22…Then Moses returned to the Lord and said, ” O Lord, why have you brought harm to this people? Why did you ever send me (Moses could not understand the delay in deliverance; we have all done this, usually before God has completed his ultimate purpose; instead of complaining and doubting in a trial, remember that all things work work together for the good if God has called us to do something).
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