Exodus 5:1-21

5:1-5 | Pharoah’s response to Moses and Aaron’s entreaty (Who is the Lord, that I should obey His voice?) should be read as contempt, not ignorance. In the ruler’s disregard for the Lord’s commands, the Lord would fall with pestilence and death (the sword) on the Egyptians so that there would be no doubt regarding the answer.

5:6-14 | Pharoah’s decree meant the Hebrews had to gather straw to make brick during the evening and early-morning hours and then still put in a full day’s work – oppressive conditions. In ancient times, straw was added to the clay and mud mixture to give greater strength and cohesion to the sun-dried brick. Because straw was not readily available, the Hebrew slaves had to gather stubble, small pieces of straw, and their production of bricks slowed while their quota remained.

5:15-21 | The officers of the children of Israel were their own work foremen. Abhorrent in the sight of Pharaoh literally means, “You have made us a stench in his presence.” Moses was accused of making the people’s situation worse.