Exodus 5
The Burden Grows Heavier Before It Is Lifted
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Pharaoh’s Rejection
5:1Afterward Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh and said, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Let My people go so that they may hold a feast for Me in the wilderness.’”
5:2Pharaoh said, “Who is He, that I should obey His voice and let the sons of Israel go? I do not know the Lord, and I will not let Israel go.”
5:3They said to him, “The God of the Hebrews has called us. We will go a three days’ journey into the wilderness to sacrifice to our God, lest death or slaughter meet us.”
5:4The king of Egypt said to them, “Moses and Aaron, why do you turn my people away from their work? Let each of you return to his work!”
5:5Pharaoh said, “Look, the people are now numerous. Let us not give them rest from their work.”
Pharaoh’s Escalation
5:6Pharaoh commanded the people’s taskmasters and scribes:
5:7“The people shall no longer be given straw for making bricks as before. Let them go and gather straw for themselves.
5:8“Impose on them the quota of bricks they make each day; do not reduce it at all. They have leisure; that is why they cry out, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’
5:9“Let these men’s tasks be heavier. Let them attend to them and pay no attention to empty words.”
5:10The taskmasters and scribes pressed them and said to the people, “Thus says Pharaoh: ‘I will no longer give you straw.
5:11“‘Go and gather straw for yourselves wherever you can find it; nothing shall be reduced from your quota.’”
Israel’s Oppression
5:12The people scattered throughout the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw.
5:13The taskmasters pressed them, saying, “Complete the work due each day, as when straw was provided for you.”
5:14The scribes of the people of the sons of Israel, whom Pharaoh’s overseers had set over them, were flogged and asked, “Why have you not completed your usual quota of bricks, including today’s?”
5:15The scribes of the sons of Israel came and cried to Pharaoh, “Why do you treat your household slaves this way?
5:16“No straw is given to your household slaves, yet they tell us to make bricks. Your servants have been flogged; you will wrong your own people.”
5:17He said to them, “You have leisure; you are idlers! That is why you say, ‘Let us go and sacrifice to our God.’
5:18“Now go and work. No straw shall be given to you, yet you shall deliver the quota of bricks.”
5:19The scribes of the sons of Israel saw that they were in trouble saying, “You shall not fall short of the bricks due each day.”
Moses’ Lamentation
5:20As they came out from Pharaoh, they met Moses and Aaron, who were coming to meet them.
5:21They said to them, “May God look upon you and judge! You have made our smell loathsome before Pharaoh and his attendants, putting a sword in his hands to kill us.”
5:22Moses returned to the Lord and said, “Lord, why have You brought harm upon this people? Why did You send me?
5:23“Since I went to Pharaoh to speak in Your name, he has harmed this people, and You have not rescued Your people.”
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Saints Translation · Liturgical reading edition · V1 · working draft awaiting specialist review.