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 any straw . 11 'You go and get straw for yourselves wherever e you can find it, but none of your labor will be reduced .' " 12 So the people scattered through all the land of Egypt to gather stubble for straw . 13 The taskmasters pressed them, saying , "Complete your work quota , your daily amount e , just as when you had straw ." 14 Moreover, the foremen of the sons of Israel , 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 in making brick as previously ?"
15 Then the foremen of the sons of Israel came and cried out to Pharaoh , saying , "Why do you deal this way with your servants ? 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 ." 17 But he said , "You are lazy , very lazy ; therefore e you say , 'Let us go and sacrifice to the Lord .' 18 "So go now and work ; for you will be given no straw , yet you must deliver the quota of bricks ." 19 The foremen of the sons of Israel saw that they were in trouble because they were told , "You must not reduce your daily amount e of bricks ." 20 When they left Pharaoh's presence e , they met Moses and Aaron as they were waiting for them. 21 They said to them, " May the Lord look upon you and judge 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."
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? 23 "Ever since I came to Pharaoh to speak in Your name , he has done harm to this people , and You have not delivered Your people at all ."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Exodus 5:10-23
Commentary on Exodus 5:10-23
(Read Exodus 5:10-23)
The Egyptian task-masters were very severe. See what need we have to pray that we may be delivered from wicked men. The head-workmen justly complained to Pharaoh: but he taunted them. The malice of Satan has often represented the service and worship of God, as fit employment only for those who have nothing else to do, and the business only of the idle; whereas, it is the duty of those who are most busy in the world. Those who are diligent in doing sacrifice to the Lord, will, before God, escape the doom of the slothful servant, though with men they do not. The Israelites should have humbled themselves before God, and have taken to themselves the shame of their sin; but instead of that, they quarrel with those who were to be their deliverers. Moses returned to the Lord. He knew that what he had said and done, was by God's direction; and therefore appeals to him. When we find ourselves at any time perplexed in the way of our duty, we ought to go to God, and lay open our case before him by fervent prayer. Disappointments in our work must not drive us from our God, but still we must ponder why they are sent.